This is a performance of such distinction that regardless of one’s personal view of the piece – that is, exactly how objective or subjective you want or need your Mahler to be and whether you favour an…
It’s always interesting getting feedback on reviews published within these pages whether there is agreement or a difference of opinion – these things are so subjective. It’s been a while, though, since a review of mine prompted…
Broadway and West End star Kim Criswell discusses golden age style, vocal health, starring in ‘Nine’, ‘Baby’ and ‘The Threepenny Opera’ on Broadway, ‘Cats’ in LA, ‘Carrie’ in London and her work with conductors John McGlinn and…
It was back in 1989 during my one and only audience with Leonard Bernstein that I experienced what I believe would now be referred to as ‘a moment’. We were discussing ‘the song about the writing of…
I have always been unreasonably fond of Charles Strouse and Stephen Schwartz’ Rags and would have given my right arm to have seen the great Teresa Stratas as Rebecca at one of the handful of performances (it…
In June I reviewed – none too favourably – an account of Mahler’s tragic and prophetic Sixth Symphony from the Essen Philharmonic Orchestra under their General Music Director Tomáš Netopil which was the third recording in recent…
Actor and singer Julian Ovenden chats to Edward Seckerson about the postponed revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s ‘South Pacific’ in Chichester, performing Sondheim in London and Paris, working for Harvey Weinstein on Scott Frankel and Michael Korie’s…
Distinguished mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly discusses her new recording of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde conducted by Vladimir Jurowski, singing Handel at Glyndebourne and ENO, Fricka in Wagner’s Ring Cycle, admired directors and dream roles with…
If there’s one factor above all that sets these performances apart it’s the osmosis between soloist and conductor. There’s a musical and intellectual friction going on here and it has to do with the balance between head…
I love the analogy Richard Rodney Bennett made when describing his multi-faceted career as ‘Different rooms, albeit in the same house’ – adding almost as a throw-away that he might have (unceremoniously) knocked down some of the…
