Aigul can’t get French visa
The Barber of Seville opened at the Opéra de Paris last nigtht without its intended Rosina. The Russian mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina was unable to obtain a visa in time to enter France. She says: Dear […]
classical music
Dear Alma, I don’t want to make music any more
From our agony aunt’s mailbag: Dear Alma, I don’t want to make music any more. I go up on stage every day, tune up with my colleagues, look out into the festival audience – and don’t […]
Evgeny Kissin at the Barbican: Bach, Chopin, Shostakovich
Bach, Chopin, Shostakovich Evgeny Kissin (piano). Barbican Hall, London, 25.06.2025 Bach Partita No. 2 in C minor, BWV 826 Chopin Nocturnes: C sharp minor, Op. 27/2; A flat, Op. 32/3. Scherzo No. 4. Shostakovich Piano Sonata No. […]
Another Ruth Leon Theatre Pocket Review: Giant – Harold Pinter theatre
Roald Dahl Giant is another kind of triumph – a brilliant play about a loathsome man. Roald Dahl, who wrote Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox and many other grotesque, darkly comic and sometimes […]
Ruth Leon’s Theatre Pocket Review: Stereophonic – Duke of York’s Theatre
Stereophonic is a triumph. It’s that rare theatrical event where everything comes together to make an evening in the theatre both new and timeless. At first sight, the premise is simple: a rock band is making their second […]
A different focus: Timothy Ridout in Mozart & Hummel with Academy of St Martin in the Fields plus Rossini & a Weber symphony
Hummel, portrait by Joseph Willibrord Mähler, c. 1814 Rossini: String Sonata No. 1, Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante in E flat, Hummel: Potpourri Op. 94, Weber: Symphony No. 1; Timothy Ridout, Tomo Keller, Academy of St Martin […]
From Handel to Verdi & beyond: I chat to soprano Soraya Mafi about singing in Handel’s Saul at Glyndebourne, & expanding into bel canto & Bernstein
Handel: Saul – Soraya Mafi – Glyndebourne Opera (Photo: Glyndebourne/ASH) Soprano Soraya Mafi is currently singing the role of Michal in Handel’s Saul at Glyndebourne in the 2025 revival of the 2015 production by Barrie […]
My Father’s Son: Nicky Spence and Dylan Perez at Thaxted Festival
My Father’s Son Nicky Spence (tenor); Dylan Perez (piano) Thaxted Parish Church, 22.06.2025 Although this recital uses the words of others, it might as well be autobiographical,’ said Nicky Spence in an article about this […]
Ruth Leon recommends… The Royal Ballet – Triple Bill
Click here to subscribe For those of us who might be missing top flight classical ballet by the top dancers, I thought a dose of the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden would hit the spot. Here are […]
Saariaho’s delusions live on
A performance of her tape-and-orchestra piece from WDR. I find it rather beautiful. The post Saariaho’s delusions live on appeared first on Slippedisc.
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