The myth of Orpheus and the story of opera are inextricable. Gifted the first musical instrument, the lyre, by his father, Apollo, Orpheus and his art represent man’s need to…
Category: Commentary
A premiere recording of Handel’s pasticcio, Caio Fabbricio, by London Early Opera
1733 was not a good year for George Frideric Handel. His business affairs were in a shaky state, the collapse of the Royal Academy in 1728 having forced him, in…
Richard Davidson-Houston appointed as Managing Director of Glyndebourne
Glyndebourne is delighted to announce that Richard Davidson-Houston will become Managing Director this autumn. Working alongside Artistic Director Stephen Langridge, Richard will lead Glyndebourne in continuing to achieve our mission…
Alexander Chance announced as winner of International Handel Singing Competition
On Friday 8th April 2022, countertenor Alexander Chance was announced as the winner of the International Handel Singing Competition following the final which took place at London’s St George’s Church, Hanover Square. Alexander Chance was also awarded the Audience Prize and fellow…
Tête à Tête‘s wider season for 2022 sees the company continue to develop artists on a national level
Tête à Tête has unveiled its wider season for 2022, which will see the outlandish opera company continue to ferment and mature artists across the country to show talented theatre-makers what is possible…
Staging Handel’s Tamerlano: a conversation with Dionysios Kyropoulos
Tamerlane (1336-1405): Mongol conqueror, masterful military leader and tactician, murderous tyrant. The son of a nomadic shepherd Taraqai – a minor nobleman from the Barlas tribe – Tamerlane (also known…
Mirages: Roderick Williams and Roger Vignoles explore the ‘art’ of French song
The repertory of French mélodie must comprise many thousands of songs. The genre, which developed in the early 1800s and reached full maturity in the second half of the century, was…
Exclusive first look behind the scenes of Katie Mitchell’s thrilling new production of Handel’s Theodora
Acclaimed director Katie Mitchell’s gripping new production of Handel’s Theodora opens at the Royal Opera House on Monday 31st January 2022. Not heard in Covent Garden since its 1750 premiere,…
Opera Holland Park’s 2022 Season: the continuing evolution of London’s greenest theatre
In 2021 Opera Holland Park unveiled a reimagined auditorium and performance space to reflect the natural beauty of the theatre’s setting and to allow for social distancing. Constructed from reclaimed…
Kaleidoscope: in conversation with Fatma Said
kaleidoscope (OED): ‘an optical instrument containing pieces of coloured glass which may be rotated into constantly altering, brightly coloured, symmetrical figures and reflections; a constantly changing group of bright colours…