Bernstein at the Proms, The John Wilson Orchestra
Yes, this was one of those evenings where EVERYONE stepped up. So many highlights: Louise Dearman’s “100 Easy Ways’, Julian Ovenden’s “Maria” with a stonking top B, Scarlet Strallen’s quite startling “Glitter and Be Gay” and Lucy…
Grand Hotel, Southwark Playhouse
Never in a million years would you guess that Grand Hotel – now brilliantly revived at the Southwark Playhouse – is one of Broadway’s great rescue jobs. That something seemingly so organic, so cohesive, so intricate, could…
Philadelphia Orchestra, Nézet-Séguin, Royal Festival Hall
The venerable and venerated Philadelphia Orchestra swept into London bearing gifts and mixed messages from Nico Muhly. Actually that was the title of his crowd-pleasing opener for the orchestra – Mixed Messages (UK Premiere) – and for…
High Society, Old Vic
It took 30 years for High Society to make its laborious transition from screen to stage. There are good reasons for that. The indelible impression left by the movie and its star Grace Kelly was undoubtedly the…
The Pirates of Penzance, London Coliseum
Let it never be said that English National Opera hasn’t done its bit for Gilbert and Sullivan – but the fact that only one its several stagings has achieved recognition and longevity surely says something about the…
A Conversation With SIMON SLATER: ‘Carmen Disruption’ at the Almeida
Simon Stephens’ Carmen Disruption upends the expectations of anyone entering the Almeida Theatre. It’s a kind of living poetry, taking its cue from Bizet’s ever-popular opera but taking it into ever darker territory. When does an artist’s…
Sweeney Todd, London Coliseum
Review for this week’s edition of The Spectator… Attend the tale… http://www.spectator.co.uk/arts/theatre/9486232/sweeney-todd-eno-review-blunt-and-bloody/… [Read More]
A Sneak Preview of Bend It Like Beckham
A YouTube video of the opening number! You saw it here first (hopefully)!!! Interested in learning more? Read ‘an earlier post about this musical’ written by Edward Seckerson last year. It is the afternoon of Friday 2 May…
Beautiful, Aldwych Theatre
Musicals stand or fall on their books; docu-musicals are defined by them. Even a bunch of great songs won’t entirely carry an evening on Broadway or in the West End and it’s certainly no coincidence that Marshall…
A Conversation With LIISA RANDALU: Schumann Quartet release 2nd CD
The brothers Erik, Ken, and Mark Schumann founded the SCHUMANN QUARTET in 2007 and it might well have been an all-family affair had the cellist’s twin sister chosen to switch from violin to viola and join them.…
