Northern Ireland Opera brings Kiss Me, Kate vibrantly to life
10/02/2020
United Kingdom Cole Porter, Kiss Me, Kate: Cast, Chorus and Orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera / Conor Mitchell (conductor). Lyric Theatre, Belfast, 5.2.2020. (RB)
Norman Bowman, Melle Stewart, Jayne Wisener, Jack McCann (c) Johnny Frazer
In Chicago, Renée Fleming shines in The Light in the Piazza
20/12/2019
United States Adam Guettel and Craig Lucas, The Light in the Piazza: Soloists, Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago / Kimberly Grigsby (conductor), Civic Opera House, Chicago, 14.12.2019. (JLZ)
Renée Fleming in The Light in the Piazza (c) Liz Lauren
At Croydon’s Ashcroft Playhouse: ‘Who’s Afraid of Angela’s Ashes – The Musical?’
07/10/2019
United Kingdom Angela’s Ashes – The Musical (music and Lyrics by Adam Howell, book by Paul Hurt [based on a memoir of Frank McCourt]): Ensemble of Angela’s Ashes -The Musical and musicians / David Hayes (musical director). Ashcroft Playhouse, Fairfield Halls, Croydon, 5.10.2019. (JB)
Jacinta Whyte (Angela) (c) Pat Redmond
Benke Rydman fashions another hit with Gothenburg Opera’s Oliver!
02/10/2019
Sweden Lionel Bart, Oliver! (Lionel Bart [Lyrics and book] and a new Swedish translation by Ulricha Johnson): Soloists of Gothenburg Opera, ensemble and children’s ensemble, Gothenburg Opera Orchestra / Bjorn Dobbelaere (conductor), Gothenburg Opera, 27.9.2019. (NS)
Fagin (David Lundqvist, centre) with his gang (c) Lennart Sjöberg
Hulks Ahoy as CODA’s The Producers reopens the Ashcroft Playhouse
23/09/2019
United Kingdom Mel Brooks, The Producers (lyrics and music by Brooks and adapted by Brooks and Thomas Meehan from the 1967 film): Ensembles and musicians of CODA (Croydon Operatic and Dramatic Association) / Joshua Hickin (musical director and arranger). Ashcroft Playhouse at Fairfield Halls, Croydon. 20.9.2019. (JB)
Puttin’ on the Ritz in Blackpool
13/07/2019
United Kingdom Various composers, Puttin’ on the Ritz: Grand Theatre, Blackpool, 6.7.2019. (MC)
Company of Puttin’ on the Ritz
Renée Fleming Headlines The Light in the Piazza Which Proves To Be a Flawed Italian Travelogue
20/06/2019
United Kingdom The Light in the Piazza (book by Craig Lucas, lyrics and music by Adam Guettel): Company of The Light in the Piazza, Orchestra of Opera North / Kimberley Grigsby (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 19.6.2019. (JPr)
The Light in the Piazza (c) Dewynters London
Bernstein’s Masterwork Comes Alive in Chicago
03/06/2019
United States Bernstein, West Side Story: Soloists, Orchestra of Lyric Opera of Chicago / James Lowe (conductor). Civic Opera House, Chicago. 18.5.19 (JLZ)
Latest Classical Music News and Reviews
- NPR
- NY Times
- BBC
- Independent News
On Thursday, the former opera star was fired by the University of Michigan. It said it found a patte [...]
On his new album, the rising pianist once called "Iceland's Glenn Gould" offers a dia [...]
In a time of striving to keep ourselves and our environments pathogen-free, Our Daily Breather seeks [...]
The Philadelphia Orchestra has shuttered its doors in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conductor Y [...]
Pianist and composer Lambert performs evocative, cinematic instrumentals wearing a mask. He's a [...]
Nine crucial works. The best recording of each. [...]
When he died in February, Peter Serkin was putting the final edits on his recording of a trove of pi [...]
Our writers are usually busy covering performances. Coronavirus changed that. Here are their suggest [...]
Philippe Jordan talks about his new role in Vienna and his farewell to Paris: a new staging of Wagne [...]
The orchestra is anticipating a loss of $10 million and said its endowment had declined by about 14 [...]
This joyous set of Beethoven's sonatas takes its place among the very best. [...]In its own way, the Seven Words of Christ is just as sublime as the Stabat Mater. [...]This sensitive, dynamic recording is a joy, and may even constitute a revelation. [...]The pair exhibits a refined style on these illuminating performances. [...]A deeply affecting experience that ought to win the opera many new admirers. [...]It's the singers who save this particular production of Verdi's opera [...]A US opera union probe finds singer guilty of abusing power [...]The Southbank Centre played host to a perfect and passionate performance [...]On a night to remember, the Albanian singer explores with shattering force the music championed by a [...]
This joyous set of Beethoven's sonatas takes its place among the very best. 
In its own way, the Seven Words of Christ is just as sublime as the Stabat Mater. 
This sensitive, dynamic recording is a joy, and may even constitute a revelation. 
The pair exhibits a refined style on these illuminating performances. 
A deeply affecting experience that ought to win the opera many new admirers. 
It's the singers who save this particular production of Verdi's opera 
A US opera union probe finds singer guilty of abusing power 
The Southbank Centre played host to a perfect and passionate performance 
On a night to remember, the Albanian singer explores with shattering force the music championed by a 
