The Hungarian Andras Schiff has announced he will not play in then US during Donald Trump’s presidency. Schiff, 71, told the NY Times: ‘He has brought an ugliness into this world which hadn’t been there… […]
We understand that Jörg Golombek, a leading tenor in the Bayreuth Festival chorus, has sent an open letter to Katharina Wagner, accusing her of wrecking the institution. The key paragraph in a very long screed […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
