Opera
French connection
It takes a particularly wilful wit to alight on Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict as the perfect operatic nod to a…
French connection
It takes a particularly wilful wit to alight on Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict as the perfect operatic nod to a…
On full beam
What’s the best first opera for a sceptical adult first timer? It’s a favourite topic among opera buffs, and once…
On full beam
What’s the best first opera for a sceptical adult first timer? It’s a favourite topic among opera buffs, and once…
On full beam
What’s the best first opera for a sceptical adult first timer? It’s a favourite topic among opera buffs, and once…
First thing’s first
Leonore is the first version of Beethoven’s Fidelio, and Stephen Medcalf thinks it’s better. ‘What Leonore gives us is more…
First thing’s first
Leonore is the first version of Beethoven’s Fidelio, and Stephen Medcalf thinks it’s better. ‘What Leonore gives us is more…
First thing’s first
Leonore is the first version of Beethoven’s Fidelio, and Stephen Medcalf thinks it’s better. ‘What Leonore gives us is more…
Fifty shades of grey
Grey men in grey overcoats walking through grey architecture. If you had to pick an image to reflect the current…
Fifty shades of grey
Grey men in grey overcoats walking through grey architecture. If you had to pick an image to reflect the current…
Fifty shades of grey
Grey men in grey overcoats walking through grey architecture. If you had to pick an image to reflect the current…
Light and shade
Comedy and tragedy sit close beside one another in Mozart’s operas. Whether it’s the grinning horror of the Così finale…
Light and shade
Comedy and tragedy sit close beside one another in Mozart’s operas. Whether it’s the grinning horror of the Così finale…
The eyes have it
Tchaikovsky knew what he thought of the title character of his Eugene Onegin. ‘I loved Tatyana, and was furiously indignant…
The eyes have it
Tchaikovsky knew what he thought of the title character of his Eugene Onegin. ‘I loved Tatyana, and was furiously indignant…
The eyes have it
Tchaikovsky knew what he thought of the title character of his Eugene Onegin. ‘I loved Tatyana, and was furiously indignant…
Wardrobe malfunction
It is at the Coliseum that I have seen the most wonderful Tristan and Isoldes of my life, both of…
Wardrobe malfunction
It is at the Coliseum that I have seen the most wonderful Tristan and Isoldes of my life, both of…
No laughing matter
Rossini is the meat-and-two-inappropriately-shaped-veg of summer opera; he’s the wag in the novelty bow tie, the two satyrs shagging enthusiastically…
No laughing matter
Rossini is the meat-and-two-inappropriately-shaped-veg of summer opera; he’s the wag in the novelty bow tie, the two satyrs shagging enthusiastically…
The conducting is as potent as Furtwängler’s: Opera North’s Ring reviewed
When I interviewed Richard Farnes in Leeds six years ago about Opera North’s project of performing the complete Ring, he…
The supremes
When I interviewed Richard Farnes in Leeds six years ago about Opera North’s project of performing the complete Ring, he…
The supremes
When I interviewed Richard Farnes in Leeds six years ago about Opera North’s project of performing the complete Ring, he…
Not a repertory piece but in its dignity it earns respect: Royal Opera’s Oedipe reviewed
For years I have been telling people that they should listen to, in the absence of staged performances, Enescu’s opera…
Myth-making
For years I have been telling people that they should listen to, in the absence of staged performances, Enescu’s opera…
