RAUTAVAARA: Rasputin

In fall 2003, Los Angeles Opera opened its season with Deborah Dratellís Nicholas and Alexandra, with libretto by Nicholas von Hoffman. At that time, company director Placido Domingo, who took on the juicy role of Rasputin, announced that the production would be filmed and prepared for eventual DVD release.

Malena Ernman, Simon Rattle and OAE at the Barbican ó Three Reviews

On 9 December 2005, Malena Ernman stepped in for an ailing Magdalena Koûen· at the Barbican in London. Here are three reviews.

Rigoletto at the Met ó Three Reviews

THE METROPOLITAN OPERA: Verdi considered Victor Hugoís play Le Roi síamuse ìone of the greatest creations of the modern theatreî, and jumped at the opportunity to adapt it for Venice in 1851.

Sherrill Milnes – An All Star Gala

The former TV-producer in me tells me the following conversation took place between producer and director (in German as this is a GDR (East-Germany) product).

Stravinsky in San Francisco ó Two Reviews

SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY: The San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas present two semi-staged theatrical performances: a double-bill featuring Stravinsky’s rarely heard operas The Nightingale and Oedipus Rex.

GAY: The Beggarís Opera

Benjamin Brittenís identity as a decidedly ìnationalî composer is formed in part by his well-known engagement of pre-existent English music, old English texts, and subjects rich in the English legacy, as a glance at works like the Purcellian The Young Personís Guide to the Orchestra, the Chester mystery play, Noyes Fludde, or the Elizabethan opera, Gloriana, all confirm.

Gwyneth Jones – In Concert

Sorry my friends, but since I retired as a TV-reporter I forgot a lot of technical know-how, which to be fair never interested me very much.

Edita Gruberov· ó The Queen of Belcanto Volume I

There are countless artists whose legend survives on their supposed fame, others leave a substantial legacy of their achievements.

On Christmas Day

Tastes in music for Christmas are quite personal. One individualís beloved tradition may be anotherís annoying jangling that just wonít go away.

STRAVINSKY: The Rite of Spring; The Nightingale

So much has been written about the notorious scandal of May 29, 1913, the scandal of the reception of the premiere of Igor Stravinskyís ballet Le Sacre du Printemps, that it is easy to forget that the music itself was less the cause of the riotous activities than the subject, the dÈcor, and the dancing.