“In opera, the most profound music, the most well-chosen words, will not contribute to the drama if the action is not coherent … every detail of the visual aspects of…
Category: Commentary
The Three Choirs Festival presents Vaughan Williams’ The Pilgrim’s Progress: in conversation with Charlotte Corderoy
As an inscription to his 1925 oratorio Sancta Civitas, Ralph Vaughan Williams drew on the words of Plato: ‘A man of sense will not insist that things are not exactly…
Opera Rara announces 2023/24 season, including a major multi-year project to perform and record almost 200 rarely heard Donizetti songs
Opera Rara continues the rich vein of operatic archaeology, which has been its calling card for over half a century, with performances, studio recordings and exhibitions in a 2023/24 season…
Florian Störtz announced as winner of International Handel Singing Competition
On Thursday 16th March 2023, baritone Florian Störtz was announced as the winner of the International Handel Singing Competition following the final presented by internationally acclaimed soprano Danielle de Niese, which took place at London’s St George’s Church, Hanover Square.…
Tongues of Fire: James Gilchrist sings Eric McElroy’s song-cycles with wonderful discernment and beauty
“Composing a song-cycle is like writing a philosophical essay,” replies composer and pianist Eric McElroy when I ask him why he is so drawn to the genre. We’re meeting in…
Glyndebourne: Dialogues des Carmélites cast change
Danielle de Niese has withdrawn from the Glyndebourne Festival 2023 production of Dialogues des Carmélites. Sally Matthews will take over the role of Blanche, returning to Glyndebourne after several successful engagements. Sally…
Paul Cleary announced as Chairman of the Board of Wexford Festival Trust
It was announced today that Paul Cleary will step into the role of Chairman of the board of Wexford Festival Trust, commencing this month. An avid opera fan, Paul has…
Glyndebourne unveils ambitious new autumn programme to showcase and share the transformative power of opera
Glyndebourne has unveiled new plans for autumn 2023 that will invite people to experience the transformative power of opera, at Glyndebourne, in schools and in the community, while also providing…
Glyndebourne announces three Jerwood Young Artists for 2023
Glyndebourne had announced the names of three singers who will be taking part in its Jerwood Young Artists Programme in 2023. The Jerwood Young Artist Programme started in 2010 and…
Elgan Llŷr Thomas launches his debut disc, Unveiled, at Wigmore Hall
The press release for Unveiled, Welsh-born tenor Elgan Llŷr Thomas’s debut disc, suggests that ‘as a gay musician and composer, [Thomas] became increasingly frustrated by opera’s traditional focus on heterosexual…