The Royal Opera House presents Current, Rising the world’s first opera in hyper reality

From 19 December 2020 the Royal Opera House will present the world’s first opera in hyper reality: Current, Rising – a unique collaboration between the Royal Opera House’s innovation programme, Audience Labs,…

Ariodante in concert’ at the Royal Opera House

Ariodante is surely one of Handel’s most ‘human’ dramas.  It’s not just that the libretto –anonymously adapted from Antonio Salvi’s Ginevra, principessa di Scozia, after Ariosto’s Orlando furioso – involves…

Ian Page and The Mozartists announce return to the concert stage in 2021

Ian Page and The Mozartists have announced their plans to return to the concert stage in 2021, having not performed live since the outbreak of COVID-19. Across three concerts, all…

Garsington Opera’s The Turn of the Screw wins 2020 Royal Philharmonic Society Award

Winners of the 2020 Royal Philharmonic Society Awards have been revealed this evening in a digital broadcast featuring performances filmed at London’s Wigmore Hall. A prominent advocate for music this…

Academy of Ancient Music appoints new Music Director

Academy of Ancient Music (AAM) has appointed Laurence Cummings as Music Director from the 2021/22 season. Laurence Cummings is one of Britain’s most exciting and versatile exponents of historical performance both as a conductor and…

Nicky Spence and Julius Drake bring Gypsy magic and mystery to Wigmore Hall

‘You noticed a nice passage in my Diary of One Who Disappeared?  You know, it would be like under that fir tree of mine in my forest.  And there’s another…

David Ward, Artistic Director of Northern Opera Group – in conversation

My telephone conversation with David Ward, co-founder and Artistic Director of Northern Opera Group, began with a sheepish confession.  Before undertaking some research prior to our discussion, I knew little…

Blue Electric at the Playground Theatre

“But, why?” “Because I said so …” The recurring refrain of the heated conversations between Maya – a rebellious teenager struggling through the angst of adolescence – and her domineering…

Sturm und Drang #2: Ian Page and The Mozartists

Ian Page does like a long-term project.  Alongside Classical Opera’s MOZART 250 project – which won’t reach a conclusion until 2041 – the conductor is in the process of completing…

Eight Songs from Isolation: first opera written for a socially distanced world

Conductor Oliver Zeffman has commissioned the very first opera for a socially distanced world, which is now available to watch exclusively on Apple Music. Eight Songs From Isolation has been written by eight leading composers, specifically for streaming – rather than live performance – and is the first opera written for a time when the performers were unable to meet in person.