Jim Pritchard

Quinn Kelsey’s well-sung and acted Macbeth elevates the Met’s new gloomy staging of Verdi’s opera

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United StatesUnited States Verdi, Macbeth: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor). Performance broadcast live (directed by Gary Halvorson) from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, 17.10.2026, and seen at the Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, 19.10.2026. (JPr)

Quinn Kelsey (Macbeth) and Lise Davidsen (Lady Macbeth) © Marty Sohl/Met Opera

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(P)review of Scottish Ballet and Forest of Black’s These Violent Delights in cinemas soon

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom These Violent Delights – ‘O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?’ ***

Romeo (Ishan Mahabir-Stokes) and Juliet (Kayla-Maree Tarantolo)inside The Apothecary © Mihaela Bodlovic

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Asmik Grigorian gives typically towering portrayals in Vienna’s new Zemlinsky/Bartók double-bill

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AustriaAustria Zemlinsky, A Florentine Tragedy; Bartók, Duke Bluebeard’s Castle: Soloists, Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Alain Altinoglu (conductor). 8.10.2026 Vienna State Opera performance (directed by Jakob Pitzer) livestreamed on 10.10.2026. (JPr)

Dmitry Golovnin (Guido), Asmik Grigorian (Bianca) and Christopher Maltman (Simone) in A Florentine Tragedy © WS/Marcel Urlaub

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First highlights for Nevill Holt Festival 2027

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Nevill Holt Festival announces Carmen for 2027

Bizet’s masterpiece, presented with Opera North, will be directed by Robin Norton-Hale (8, 12, 17 and 20 June)

First 2027 programme highlights also include Symphonic Ibiza (5 June), Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra (11 June), the Jay Rayner Sextet (12 June), Grimethorpe Colliery Band (13 June), Gabrieli Roar (19 June) and Jason Byrne (25 June)

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Rob Shirakbari in a glorious Burt Bacharach celebration and it is exactly What The World Needs Now

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom What The World Needs Now – The Burt Bacharach Songbook: Rob Shirakbari (music director, keyboards), Rumer, Shaun Escoffery (soloist), Georgia van Etten, Woody Mankowski, Jana Varga, Michael Bakewell (soloists, instrumentalists), Flo Moore (bass guitar), Ed Richardson (drums), Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, 5.10.2026. (JPr)

What The World Needs Now – The Burt Bacharach Songbook previously at the Royal Albert Hall

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(P)review of ENB’s The Sleeping Beauty film: ideal viewing for those new to ballet

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom English National Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty: Soloists, Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Maria Seletskaja (conductor). Filmed (directed by Ross MacGibbon) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 28 June 2025 and available in UK cinemas from 13.9.2026. (JPr) ***

Anna Nevzorova (Aurora) and Davi Ramos (Prince Désiré) © Annabel Moeller

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