A Conversation With SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO: Rossini’s ‘William Tell’
The Royal Opera’s Music Director Sir Antonio Pappano, star of the BBC TV series Opera Italia, has been making waves all over Europe with his Italian musical family – the Orchestra and Chorus of the Accademia Nazionale…
Julie’s “sprechstimme”
Oh, why, oh, why, was she ever persuaded to do it? I chose not to venture to the 02 last night for Julie Andrews’ much-publicised return to the London stage (if that humongous arena can be characterised…
Abba’s Swedish Folk Opera
They tried to sneak in unnoticed but adoring fans had engaged their Abba-spotting radar and a prolonged ovation was inevitable. Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus are, of course, pop legends but it’s good to be reminded of…
Let the Sunshine In
You could probably feel the good vibrations all the way down Shaftesbury Avenue. The entire New York “tribe” which made Diane Paulus’ revival of Hair such a Tony Award winning triumph on the other side of the…
SONDHEIM – In Good Company
Friends and colleagues – I’ve just received this from the outgoing MD of Josef Weinberger who commissioned my monster birthday podcast for Stephen Sondheim: I am simply awestruck! This is a stunning achievement. It delineates and encapsulates…
Love Never Dies – the verdict (and at last some constructive criticism)
After roughly two weeks of previews and two weeks of internet bickering it’s almost refreshing to scour the morning papers in search of constructive comment on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s much discussed and long awaited sequel to “The…
Judgement Day for LND – and hopefully some literate criticism
Once a mighty organ, now a feeble harmonium, The Times continues to provide a platform (or is that a soapbox) for the online bombardment of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom sequel “Love Never Dies”. Let’s hope that Benedict…
Mourning Philip Langridge
Sad and shocked to hear of Philip’s passing. We met many times over the years and his energy and enthusiasm were exhilarating and inspirational. He was a shining example of everything in music and drama that cannot…
Online trials for LND
There’s nowt more intemperate than an amateur critic – and the web is full of them. Just don’t expect chapter and verse. Take Johnny Fox (quoted in The Times) on “Love Never Dies”, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom…
Kate Baldwin sings Lane & Harburg
She collected great notices for the recent Broadway revival of “Finian’s Rainbow” (which regretfully I missed) and I’ve just been sampling her delightful new album from PS Classics. What a sunny open personality Kate’s voice has –…
