Featured Articles and News

Samuel Hudson introduces the 2021 Three Choirs Festival in conversation with John Quinn

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Samuel Hudson discusses his 2021 Three Choirs Festival with John Quinn

Samuel Hudson (c) Michael Whitefoot

When Samuel Hudson took up his post as Director of Music at Worcester Cathedral in autumn 2019, he must have been very excited. Not only was he to be in charge of the music at one of England’s leading cathedrals, but also the post carried with it the artistic directorship of the Three Choirs Festival one year in every three – and it was to be Worcester’s turn to host the festival in the summer of 2020. He moved to Worcester from Blackburn Cathedral, where he had been Director of Music since 2011, and his musical pedigree is strong. He was organ scholar successively at Girton College, Cambridge and Wells Cathedral, after which he held posts at two significant churches, St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, London and All Saints’ Church, Hertford, prior to his move to Blackburn.

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She Walks in Beauty – Marianne is Faithfull

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Marianne is Faithfull

Marianne Faithfull (c) Giancarlo Botti

Marianne is Faithfull. That’s true whether upper or lower case is used for the f. We have to ask, faithful to what or to whom? In Marianne’s case it doesn’t just mean tribe, though as I shall show, that is of overwhelming importance; it means faithful to herself, even as that self continues to reveal to her, unknown aspects of herself.

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Bampton Classical Opera’s May 2021 performances of Gluck’s ‘The Crown’ (‘La corona’)

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BAMPTON CLASSICAL OPERA 2021 Christoph Willibald Gluck ‘THE CROWN’ (‘La corona’) composed 1765 Azione teatrale, in one act, sung in Italian with linking English narration Concert Performances: St John’s Smith Square, London: 18 May, 2021 University Church, Oxford: 22 May, 2021 Libretto: Pietro Metastasio Conductor: Robert Howarth CHROMA Ensemble Bampton Classical Opera presents two concert performances of Gluck’s one-act opera The … Read more

Royal Opera House to thank NHS workers with programme of live, world-class opera and ballet

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#ThankYouNHS 

For more information about the Royal Opera House click here 

As the country emerges from lockdown restrictions, the Royal Opera House is delighted to announce a suite of performances, partnerships and events, as well as a special performance by the Royal Opera Chorus for hospital radios up and down the UK, to say thank you to the amazing staff of the NHS.

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The Paris Opera announces the appointment of Gustavo Dudamel as its new Music Director

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Gustavo Dudamel is the new Music Director of the Paris Opera from August 2021

Gustavo Dudamel © Julien Mignot

L’Opéra national de Paris and its General Manager Alexander Neef have announced the appointment of Gustavo Dudamel as Music Director for six seasons commencing 1 August 2021.

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Brian Elias: Wigmore Hall Retrospective to be livestreamed from London’s Wigmore Hall on 24 April 2021

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BRIAN ELIAS:  WIGMORE HALL RETROSPECTIVE SATURDAY 24 APRIL 2021, 11.30AM & 3PM Livestreamed on Wigmore Hall YouTube  Available on demand for 30 days  ‘Though Elias writes little…what he produces is immaculately achieved. Every inflection tells, the balance of sound is exact, and the sound seductive in the best traditions of glamorous 20th century orchestral writing.’ … Read more

Mozart: the thick and thin of it

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Readers of the London Review of Books have recently been reminded of the incomparable importance of Brigid Brophy (1929-1995), born of Irish parents in Ealing, West London, sometimes called Lady Levey, since her happy husband, Sir Michael Levey, who was Director of the National Gallery, gave up his posting to look after her in her final illness of multiple sclerosis, following her many lesbian affairs, with among others, Iris Murdock.

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Sir Antonio Pappano steps down from Covent Garden in July 2024 to take up the Chief Conductor baton with LSO

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LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA APPOINTS SIR ANTONIO PAPPANO AS ITS CHIEF CONDUCTOR

Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor) & LSO (c) Liam Hennebry

The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) has announced the appointment of Sir Antonio Pappano as its Chief Conductor from September 2024, becoming Chief Conductor Designate in September 2023. He steps down from his post as Music Director of the Royal Opera House at the end July 2024. Sir Antonio will conduct the Orchestra in its annual London Barbican Season, where it is Resident Orchestra, and on national and international tours. For more information about LSO click here.

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