I’ve always admired the modesty and truthfulness of James Ehnes as a player – and you can hear that modesty at work in Phaedrus’ opening address from the Bernstein Serenade. There’s an unfussy directness about it that…
Bartok was never fully content with The Wooden Prince and this final revision marks an end to his tinkering. It is significant, I think, that all his trimming has to do with music explicitly related to stage…
For this Musicals Magazine Podcast, Edward Seckerson meets Christine Allado, fresh from lending her shining soprano to the Old Friends celebrating Stephen Sondheim at London’s Gielgud Theatre. Some may remember her opposite Rob Houchen in the TV documentary The Making…
For this Musicals Magazine Podcast, Edward Seckerson meets Jack Godfrey, one of the brightest and most engaging talents in the exciting renaissance of new writing, enlivening the West End and beyond. With 42 Balloons – for which he wrote…
Bonnie Langford, leading lady of musical theatre, shares her love and admiration for those who have literally led the way. Those ladies who have blazed a trail through musical theatre and more. A magical evening celebrating stars…
The concept behind Mathieu Herzog’s Appassionato would seem to me to be one of chamber music (and the mindset implicit in that) transcending the number of players involved – a free and flexible approach with infinite possibilities.…
For this Musicals Magazine Podcast, Edward Seckerson meets Samantha Barks, who has travelled far since she and Rachel Tucker went head-to-head in a bid to win the role of Nancy in the reality TV show I’d Do Anything. Unforgettably,…
In 1993 I wrote this piece on BARBRA STREISAND to launch a series called Vocal Heroes in THE INDEPENDENT newspaper. ‘I want it technical as hell and a good read’ said the then Arts Editor. Imagine that…
The Eighth is often the Mahler symphony that seems to inspire conductors who fall short in the others. That’s a sweeping generalisation, of course, but look no further than a conductor like Solti whose Mahler always struck…
For this Musicals Magazine Podcast, Edward Seckerson meets Zachary James, who’s currently hotting up the Underworld on the other side of that wall in Hadestown. James, who originated the role of Lurch in the Andrew Lippa musicalisation of The…
