United Kingdom Sondheim, Into the Woods: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Northern Ireland Opera / Peter Mitchell (conductor). Lyric Theatre, Belfast, 9.2.2022. (RB)
Northern Ireland Opera’s terrific production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods
Musicals
What a way to spend an evening! The 9 to 5 the Musical tour is the perfect antidote to recent sad times
United Kingdom Dolly Parton presents 9 to 5 the Musical: Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, 11.1.2022. (JPr)
Dorian: A Rock Musical has some impressive moments but doesn’t exactly come of age
United Kingdom Dorian: A Rock Musical (based on Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray): Filmed (directed by Julia Froud) in June 2021 and streaming from 16.7. to 12.8.2021 on Stream.Theatre (click here). (JPr)
Dreaming big – Opera Saratoga’s terrific Man of La Mancha
United States Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion’s Man of La Mancha: Soloists, Opera Saratoga Orchestra / Laura Bergquist (conductor). Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga Springs, NY, 8.7.2021. (RP)
Aljaž and Janette’s Remembering the Oscars is a happy hour to help you forget the past year
United Kingdom Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara in Remembering the Oscars: Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara and company with Janine Johnson and Giovanni Spanó (singers). Available to stream until 17.4.2021. (JPr)
Exuberant Jason Manford-led Curtains proves a perfect antidote to our coronavirus-blighted times
United Kingdom Curtains (music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, book by Rupert Holmes, original book and concept by Peter Stone with additional lyrics by John Kander and Rupert Holmes): Company of Curtains, filmed at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, and directed for the screen by Martin Riley. Live online stream reviewed on 14.4.2020. (JPr)
Northern Ireland Opera brings Kiss Me, Kate vibrantly to life
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)
In Chicago, Renée Fleming shines in The Light in the Piazza
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)
