“Un ballo in maschera”: Verdi’s Gustavo III
Gustavo III was written for the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. Gustavo III by Eugene Scribe was the chosen subject (1833), a play about the assassination of the King of Sweden in 1792 by noblemen […]
classical music
.jpg?w=510&resize=510,510&ssl=1 "Virtuosity & discipline: John Wilson & the Sinfonia of London in Respighi's Roman trilogy & Walton's Cello Concerto")
Virtuosity & discipline: John Wilson & the Sinfonia of London in Respighi’s Roman trilogy & Walton’s Cello Concerto
Walton: Cello Concerto – Jonathan Aasgaard, John Wilson, Sinfonia of London – BBC Proms at Royal Albert Hall (Photo: BBC / Chris Christodoulou) Verdi: Overture to La forza del destino, Walton: Cello Concerto, Respighi: Roman […]
Lesser Beethoven? Athenian ruins, a too-still sea, and an Opferlied
Beethoven wrote a lot; and a lot sits under the radar today. Yes there are the nine symphonies, but there’s also a “Battle Symphony”; there’s all those sets of variations that aren’t on Diabelli; and […]
Ariadne auf Lewes: Strauss’ Naxos-based opera returns to Glyndebourne, transformed
Ariadne auf Lewes: Strauss’ opera returns to Glyndebourne, transformed. Soloists; London Philharmonic Orchestra / Robin Ticciati (conductor). Glyndebourne Opera House, 19.07.2026 Production: Director, Costume Designer – Laurent Pelly Set Designer – Massimo Tronacanetti Lighting Designer […]
Another marvelous release from Naxos – orchestral music of Henrique Oswald
Here we have another invaluable release from the indefatigable Naxos label, presenting a heretofore unknown orchestra (the Minas Gerais Philharmonic Orchestra in Brazil) and their principal conductor (Fabio Mechetti) playing the music of unknown composer […]
,%20Camilla%20Seale%20(Alcina)%20plus%20chorus%20Credit_%20Genevieve%20Girling%20(1).jpg?w=510&resize=510,510&ssl=1 "It was Francesca Caccini's score, & Vache Baroque's performance, that surprised & captivated: La liberazione di Ruggiero at Buxton International Festival")
It was Francesca Caccini’s score, & Vache Baroque’s performance, that surprised & captivated: La liberazione di Ruggiero at Buxton International Festival
Francesca Caccini: La liberazione di Ruggiero – Jon Stainsby, Camilla Seale – Vache Baroque at Buxton International Festival (Photo: Genevieve Girling) Francesca Caccini: La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina; Camilla Seale, Jon Stainsby, Phoebe Rayner, […]
Richard Strauss: excerpts from Die schweigsame Frau
In a week which included Richard Strauss’ Ariadne from Glyndebourne, it feels only right to reach for this from the pile: excerpts from Richard Strauss’s comic opera Die schweigsame Frau (The Silent Woman), pre-produced as studio recordings […]
Ermitage: Poulenc, Roslavets, Shostakovich
The booklet fo his Scala Music release is French only, but there’s an important opening paragraph by Michail Maiasky: The name “Hermitage” may seem paradoxical for a duo: Doesn’t the hermit want to go away […]
,%20Hilary%20Cronin%20(Melissa)%20and%20Rowan%20Pierce%20(Oriana)%20Credit_%20Genevieve%20Girling%20(1).jpg?w=510&resize=510,510&ssl=1 "Musically, an evening of complete enjoyment: Olivia Fuchs's playful 'Love Island' setting for Handel's Amadigi in Buxton")
Musically, an evening of complete enjoyment: Olivia Fuchs’s playful ‘Love Island’ setting for Handel’s Amadigi in Buxton
Handel: Amadigi di Gaula – Tim Morgan, Hilary Cronin, Rowan Pierce – Buxton International Festival (Photo: Genevieve Girling) Handel: Amadigi di Gaula; Tim Morgan, Rowan Pierce, Hilary Cronin, James Hall, director: Olivia Fuchs, the English […]
More than a concert: Mozart’s La clemenza di Tito at the Buxton Festival brings out the work’s real drama
Mozart: La clemenza di Tito; Maria Stella Maurizi, Indyana Schneider, Xavier Mas, Frances Gregory, director: Corina Würsch, conductor: Adrian Kelly, Buxton International Festival; Buxton Opera HouseReviewed: 19 July 2026 A mainly young cast brings out the […]
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%20Graham%20Boulton.jpeg?w=160&resize=160,160&ssl=1 "Celebrating John Joubert at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in advance of his 2027 centenary")
