Hats off to David Hill for overseeing the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s last hurrah of the season with three career-defining works that changed the musical landscape in both Britain and the…
Category: Performances
Gustavo Dudamel conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in Strauss and Ravel
We often get reminded that a review is just one person’s opinion. In this particular instance, I am going to be shamelessly subjective rather than assume some kind of position…
RAM students’ powerful and vivid enactment of Britten’s Biblical drama The Burning Fiery Furnace
The Burning Fiery Furnace (1966) is the second of Britten’s Church Parables, based on an episode from the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament. Its immediate literary inspiration is…
Nouvelle production d’Il Trittico à l’Opéra Bastille, Paris
There are certain stagings when good fortune shines on casting decisions and produces an operatic miracle. Such is the case with this new production of Puccini’s Il Trittico given at…
On a nature trail with Cyrille Dubois and Tristan Raës
Artfully arranged white lilies flanked Wigmore Hall’s stage, but roses were the flower of choice in the perfumed texts of the romances and mélodies performed by Cyrille Dubois and Tristan…
Bel Cantanti Opera Presents a Dreamy Roméo et Juliette
For over 20 years now, Bel Cantanti Opera has been a staple of the opera scene in the Washington, D.C. area, and if you take in one of their productions…
Magical Surreality: The Excursions of Mr Brouček from Simon Rattle and the LSO
Simon Rattle’s survey of the Janáček operas has proved a tale of two cities: Berlin (first the Philharmonic and latterly the Staatsoper) and London (the LSO). The latter has been…
Washington National Opera’s The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs: Mesmerizing Tech Opera
Having heard two of the Washington National Opera Domingo-Cafritz young artists at an event at the Kreeger Museum in D.C. earlier this season, I knew I was in for something…
Handel’s Jephtha at the Barbican
Handel’s last oratorio presents, as amongst the composer’s catalogue of undeniable masterpieces, a masterwork of stunning stature. Not a note is misplaced in Jephtha: long though it is (more of…
TRAB: The Rest is Dust premieres in Malta
On the Maltese islands, the principal venues for full-scale opera are the Astra and Aurora opera houses on Gozo. While Valletta can pride itself on the exquisite 18th century Teatro…