The anniversaries of composers always provide a decent opportunity to hear music we rarely do. Serge Rachmaninoff’s 150th anniversary is a major chance to do that – although he is…
A smart and sharp Agrippina from Hampstead Garden Opera
In 2017, the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington mounted a landmark, immersive exhibition, Opera: Passion, Power and Politics, which attempted to tell the ‘story of opera’ from its…
England’s Orpheus: Iestyn Davies and Thomas Dunford at Wigmore Hall
One imagines that, when compiling their programme for this recital at Wigmore Hall, Iestyn Davies and Thomas Dunford sat down and drew up a list of their ‘desert island’ favourites. …
Donizetti’s L’esule di Roma: Opera Rara at Cadogan Hall
Donizetti’s melodramma eroico, L’esule di Roma, was the composer’s first major success with opera seria. It premiered in Naples at the Teatro S. Carlo on 1st January 1828, travelled to…
The Peasant Poet: the songs of Stephen Dodgson
There were many things that drew me to The Peasant Poet, a disc of songs by Stephen Dodgson (1924-2013) – which was released by SOMM Recordings last year, marking the…
Exaltation from the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir fit for a King
Hymn of the Forests was the programme title for what was really a celebration of events earlier in the day down the road at Westminster Abbey. There was certainly much…
Total Immersion: Kaija Saariaho
‘Total Immersion’ is a good way of describing the music of the Finnish composer, Kaija Saariaho. The spectral sonorities that she creates by synthesising, manipulating and layering timbres, harmonies and…
Past Glories Revisited from the Choir of Christ Church, Oxford
This bumper box set from Decca encapsulates a golden age for the Choir of Christ Church, Oxford. Encased in their former jacket designs, the 19 discs showcase recordings made during…
Arminio at the Royal Opera House
Arminio was the first new opera in Handel’s 1736-37 season at Covent Garden, performed for the first time on 12th January 1737. After six performances it was withdrawn and remained…
Wexford Festival Opera 2023
Public Booking for 72nd Wexford Festival Opera opens on 10 th May 202370 events, 13 days from 24th October to 5th November 2023 General booking for Wexford Festival Opera opens…