Articles & Interviews

The master list of news, features and interviews

Pianist and author Jack Kohl discusses his new book of essays with Robert Beattie

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Robert Beattie in conversation with pianist and author Jack Kohl  Jack Kohl is a pianist and writer from the north shore of Long Island, New York. In 2019 he published a series of essays, Bone over Ivory: Essays from a Standing Pianist. In 2021 he follows this up with a new series of essays, From … Read more

The Kathleen Ferrier Awards Competition 2020 announces winners

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KATHLEEN FERRIER AWARDS 2020

The prize winners of the 65th Kathleen Ferrier Awards Competition were announced on 13 December at the end of the competition’s final, streamed from Southwark’s Henry Wood Hall.

Jessica Cale

The prestigious Kathleen Ferrier Awards, held annually in memory of the great British contralto, are renowned for kick-starting the careers of outstandingly talented young singers. This year Jessica Cale won the first prize of £12,500. Jessica, from Pembrokeshire, studied at the Royal College of Music, having already worked extensively with The Sixteen and the Monteverdi Choir. She has appeared with the Gabrieli Consort, at Ryedale Festival Opera and was a finalist in the 2020 London Handel Festival Singing Competition.

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Met Stars Live in Concert – New Year’s Eve Gala review and new dates

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New Year’s Eve Gala – 31 December at 9pm GMT

FOR THE RECENT REVIEW CLICK HERE

Met stars Angel Blue, Javier Camarena, Matthew Polenzani, and Pretty Yende, will sing live from the neo-Baroque Parktheater, in Augsburg, Germany.

The New Year’s Eve Gala programme includes arias, duets, and ensembles from Donizetti’s La fille du régiment to Puccini’s La bohème and La rondine, as well as arrangements of operetta and Neapolitan songs. The concert – part of the Met Stars Live in Concert series – will be streamed live (tickets, priced at $20, are now on sale on the Met’s website click here) and then be available on demand for 14 days.

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English National Ballet update their current lockdown plans for 2020-21

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English National Ballet – 2020-21 Announcement

Nutcracker Delights

For more about English National Ballet click here

English National Ballet’s Christmas gift – Nutcracker Delights to be released online

As a gift to its audiences this Christmas, English National Ballet will make a recorded performance of Nutcracker Delights available to watch for free on YouTube and Facebook, from 2pm Thursday 24 December, for 30 days.

As London moved into Tier 4 COVID-19 restrictions and the subsequent cancellation of all scheduled performances of Nutcracker Delights, the Company decided to film and share a recording of this specially-adapted production with its audience as a thank you at the close of its 70th Anniversary year. Nutcracker Delights was filmed on 18 and 19 December at the London Coliseum by Michael Nunn and William Trevitt.

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Sometimes a Light Surprises: J.M.W. Turner at Tate Britain

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Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings; It is the Lord, who rises with healing in his wings: when comforts are declining, he grants the soul again a season of clear shining, to cheer it after rain. William Cowper (pronounced Cooper) was one of the earliest of the nineteenth century romantic poets, much … Read more

The latest opus of Graham Johnson: Francis Poulenc: The Life in the Songs

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He who would valiant be ‘Gainst all disaster, Let him in constancy Follow the Master. There’s no discouragement Shall make him once relent His first avowed intent To be a pilgrim Who so beset him round With dismal stories, Do but themselves confound His strength the more is. No foes shall stay his might, Though … Read more