Dear Alma, Is sex only for holidays?
From our agony aunt’s mailbag: Dear Alma, This happens every year. Beginning of December, the principal bassoon asks where I’m gonna be for Christmas. At home, I say. Alone? he checks. When I nod he says, […]
classical music
Mirga: My father ran at a Russian tank with a kitchen knife
In tonight’s Lebrecht Interview, the conductor Mirga Grazinte-Tyla remembers the night the Russians tried to reimpose their rule on her native Lithuania. Mirga ran barefoot into the night behind her father, who was determined to […]
Star baritone says he was poisoned at the Bolshoi
From a Russian glamour magazine: Vasily Sokolov told his colleagues that he bought a bottle of non-carbonated water at the buffet near the historical stage, took a sip, but spat out the contents because instead […]
Noted English harpsichordist, 91
The distinguished harpsichoprdist and fortepianist Colin Tilney has died at the age of 91. Tilney worked as a repetiteur at Sadlers Wells opera and made numerous akbums. He performed on the recording Stravinsky conducted of […]
He changed opera in every corner of the country
In tonight’s Lebrecht Interview on BBC Radio 3, I talk to David Pountney about a career that has involved pivotal roles as director of productions at Scottish Opera and English National Opera, and general director […]
A pedigree harpist, 70
We received late notification of the death of Deborah Fleisher, daughter of the late pianist Leon Fleisher and scion of a tremendous musical llineagie, as her sister Leah recalls: Deborah Fleisher (December 3, 1953 – […]
It’s curtains for violin comedians
The Chinese-Australian pair of comedy fiddlers have called it quits, ending their social-media careers in the holiday lull. Here’s their Christmas-Day message: twosetviolin Dear Ling Ling Wannabes, This is a message we never thought we’d […]
Sir Bryn Terfel in Donizetti’s Elixir
I love Naxos’ pithy summary of the plot of Donizetti’s much-loved opera: Country boy Nemorino is determined to win the haughty Adina’s heart, but she refuses to give him the time of day. Can Doctor […]
Free opera stream: The Real Rigoletto
To elevate a jester to a tragic stature comparable to a Macbeth or a Lear is no easy feat. The dramatic essence of Shakespeare runs in the veins of this Rigoletto, although the story is based on the controversial Le roi […]
A dance to Mozart’s Requiem and the concentration-camp Kaiser? Hmmm…
Not sure at all about this upcoming Vienna premiere. Would you say it’s appropriate? In KaiserRequiem, Viktor Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis merges with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem to create a musico-dramatic dance evening. It […]
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