There’s no denying the energy and precision Sir John Eliot Gardiner can still coax from the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists, founded by him over fifty years ago. In…
Category: Reviews
Tristan und Isolde: the London Philharmonic rise to epic heights, an inspired conductor … and two Tristans
I’m often left wondering with a great performance of Tristan und Isolde whether the true emotion of the work comes from the orchestra rather than the singers. There were moments…
Two Shows at Salzburg’s Rock Riding School
Mind-blowing productions of Strauss’ Elektra staged by Krzysztof Warlikowski and Luigi Nono’s Intolleranza 1960 staged by Jan Lauwers. [Lead photo is a detail of the back wall of Elektra covered…
Songs of Travel and Home: a very personal debut album from baritone Julien Van Mellaerts
For his debut recital album, Julien Van Mellaerts has compiled a programme of English, French and New Zealand song which, the baritone explains, ‘shows a quasi-autobiographical insight into my life…
ENO pop up with Puccini at Crystal Palace Bowl
English National Opera seem to be making a summer habit of popping up with Puccini in London’s palace-parks. After 2020’s hill-top drive-in La bohème at Alexandra Palace, this year the…
Opera on Location bring Debussy’s The prodigal son home to Sheffield
Located in one of Sheffield’s oldest industrial districts, Kelham Island Museum stands on a man-made island, the result of 12th-century engineering when a goit, or mill race, was constructed diverting…
Light from Darkness: Live from London Summer 2021 closes in celebratory style
As gentle as you have lived,have you died,too holy for sorrow!Let no eye shed a tearfor the spirit’s heavenly homecoming. The words of Friedrich Haug, commemorating the death of the…
The Complete Songs of Fauré Vol. 4: varied performances highlight vocal diversity
The final instalment of Signum’s four-part Fauré exploration comes, as previously, with the ever-reliable collaborator Malcolm Martineau. This disc’s two dozen plus songs are shared by a luxury line-up of…
This is not a lullaby: Dutch soprano Channa Malkin challenges and soothes
The Dutch soprano Channa Malkin explores aspects of motherhood and maternal love in This is not a lullaby, an album of songs by Mieczysław Weinberg, Sir John Tavener and her…
Les Talens Lyriques present an inspiring premiere recording of Lully’s Ballet royal de la Naissance de Vénus
In Le Maître a danser, a dance manual which was published in Paris in 1725, Pierre Rameau wrote of the saltatory prowess of the French King, Louis XIV (1643-1715) and…