Classical Music Reviews
It’s all about the music: Opera Holland Park chorus & City of London Sinfonia on terrific form under Naomi Woo in powerful, celebratory Turandot
Puccini: Turandot – José de Eça – Opera Holland Park (Photo: Pablo Strong) Puccini: Turandot; Anne Sophie Duprels, José de Eça, Fflur Wyn, Jihoon Kim, Robert, Burt, Josef Jeongmeen Ahn, Joseph Buckmaster, Zwakele Tshabalala, director: Eleanor Burke, […]
René Benedetti’s miraculous Paganini
French virtuoso violinist René Benedetti was born in Toulon in 1901; the family moved to Paris when René’ father opened a music shop in Montmartre. Benedetti was something of a prodigy: he had lessons at […]
Handel’s Serse at Barbican
Most recently seen in March in a stunning Tamerlano at Shorreditch Town Hall as part of the 2026 London Handel Festival, Douglas Cummings and the Academy of Ancient Music gave us Serse of 1738 (premiered […]
As Ryan Wigglesworth steps down as chief conductor of BBC SSO, his replacement is announced as Antony Hermus, principal guest conductor of Opera North
Antony Hermus (Photo: Marco Borggreve) Next year, Ryan Wigglesworth completes a remarkable five seasons as chief conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra [see my recent interview with Ryan focusing on his being Featured Artist […]
Classical Music News
Telekom Beethoven Competition and Zenezen Partner to Back Rising Pianist Seth Schultheis
Bonn, April 2026 — Momentum continues to build for American pianist Seth Schultheis, First Prize winner of the 2025 Telekom Beethoven Competition, as a new partnership aims to support not just his artistry—but the long-term sustainability […]
BBC PROMS 2026: STAR-SPANGLED SPECTACLE MEETS BRITISH BACKBONE IN AN 86-CONCERT SUMMER MARATHON
Royal Albert Hall, London and venues nationwide 17 July – 12 September 2026 The BBC Proms returns this summer with a swaggering, globe-spanning 2026 season that feels both celebratory and strategic: 86 concerts across eight weeks, […]
ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA’S JENNY MOLLICA APPOINTED TO LEAD THE ROUNDHOUSE
The announcement was made today that Jenny Mollica, Chief Executive of English National Opera (ENO), has been appointed the new CEO of the Roundhouse. She will step down from her current role in summer 2026. […]
ENO LAUNCHES INTERNATIONAL SEARCH FOR NEXT MACKERRAS FELLOW AS PART OF CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
English National Opera (ENO) today celebrates the centenary of the birth of Sir Charles Mackerras by opening applications for the next ENO Mackerras Fellowship – the first to take place under the company’s new Music […]
