New US concert hall seats just 100
The University of California at Berkeley has an excellent classical music venue, the Hertz Hall. It seats 678. But it is often three-quarters empty. So they have built the Wu Hall, with just 100 seats. […]
tritonous
The Uncanny Things Trilogy : Virtually Opera’s trilogy of interactive, immersive operas created by Leo Doulton
Come Bargain with Uncanny Things – Virtually Opera, COLAB Tower (Photo: Claire Shovelton) In September last year I interviewed director and writer Leo Doulton [see my interview] and one of the topics we touched on […]
Celebrating Rodelinda: Garsington Opera and the Handel Hendrix House mark 300 years since the premiere of Handel’s opera
A caricature of a performance of Handel’s Flavio (from 1723) featuring Senesino and Francesca Cuzzoni with Berenstadt (far right) Handel’s opera Rodelinda was premiered 300 years ago this year, on 13 February 1725 at the King’s […]
Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius – on original instruments!
This is utterly remarkable: Elgar’s familiar but always affecting oratorio on original instruments, the centre of which is the Gabrieli Consort and Players! The instrumenrium is carefully researched: and even includes Elgar’s own trombone! There […]
Ruth Leon recommends… Into The Woods – Bernadette Peters
Stephen Sondheim There has been much clamour from readers for full-length Sondheim musicals and this week Into the Woods with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine who also directed, has […]
Katharina Wagner gets booed in Barcelona
The Bayreuth boss is not having much luck when she directs away from home. Here’s Javier Pérez Senz for Scherzo on her Lohengrin. The premiere of the production of Lohengrin, directed by Katharina Wagner, the […]
LA Phil upgrades two more V-Ps
They may have no chief conductor in sight, and no clear strategic goals, but for want of anything better to do the payroll-heavy LA Phil just keeps on promoting its own. We hear that Cynthia […]
No-name gives $15 million to US orchestra
They’re not quite sure what’s hit them in Jacksonville, Florida. An anonymous donor has dropped in with 15 million, the biggest gift they have ever seen. Music Director Courtney Lewis says the money will go […]
Scots fling at Saxon season
Sir James MacMillan (pic) has been named Composer in Residence next season at the Dresden Philharmonie, where the chief conductor is Sir Donald Runnicles. Among the works to be performed is MacMillan’s fourth symphony, dedicated […]
The Truth We Seek: Edinburgh International Festival 2025, Suor Angelica, La Clemenza di Tito, Mary Queen of Scots, Taverner’s The Veil of the Temple & a focus on Poland
Nicola Benedetti (Photo: Laurence Winram) The full programme for this year’s Edinburgh International Festival has been released, the third festival under Nicola Benedetti’s artistic directorship. This year celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Edinburgh Festival […]
Latest Posts
