The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela has certainly been in the news of late, with pianist Gabriela Montero particularly vocal in the wake of the recent election. But they…
The Nash Ensemble celebrate 60 years in and with style
There are few composers with an innate ability to write so captivatingly for the human voice as Richard Strauss. Towards the very end of his career, in 1947, he offered…
A rare outing for Francesco Scarlatti’s Il Daniele nel lago de’ Leon at Wigmore Hall
The rarest of the rare, perhaps, here: an oratorio by Francesco Scarlatti. And you thought Alessandro’s output was elusive. Francesco Scarlatti (1656-1721) was Alessandro’s brother (and uncle, therefore, of Domenico). …
Boulez at 100 and a George Benjamin premiere: Rattle and the LSO in London
Boulez 100, Rattle 70: both nice and buzzy, both true for this season. The two collided in this concert, and how: Boulez’s Éclat (note, not Éclat-Multiples), with Sir Simon at…
Kentridge’s Die Zauberflöte adds Christmasy touches at the New National Theatre, Tokyo
In December, Japanese theatres and concert halls customarily perform two blockbusters: Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Now, a third seasonal piece might have been discovered: certainly William Kentridge’s 2005…
Gesualdo Six captivate a full house at St. Cross, Winchester
You can count on the fingers of one hand those a cappella vocal groups within the UK that come close to the finesse of The Gesualdo Six. In terms of…
Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius in memory of Andrew Davis
This was to have been something entirely different: Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ, conducted by Andrew Davis. The death of the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s former chief conductor led not only to…
Antonio Pappano reveals Puccini’s La rondine in all its sunlit splendour
“A wonderful fact to reflect upon, that every human creature is constituted to be that profound secret and mystery to every other.” This opening line from chapter three of Charles…
Rossini’s Guillaume Tell Triumphs at the New National Theatre Tokyo
To most Japanese, the overture of Guillaume Tell (William Tell) is familiar, evoking memories of Sports Day at elementary school. Nevertheless, this was the first full-scale staged production of Rossini’s…
ENO’s fun-filled Pirates of Penzance
Currently showing at the Coliseum, few would argue this revival of Mike Leigh’s Pirates of Penzance isn’t entertaining. Never mind the absurd storyline involving an apprentice pirate whose wish to…