John Rhodes

Thrilling and uplifting Elijah from the London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra under Sir Antonio Pappano

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mendelssohn, Elijah: Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha (soprano), Dame Sarah Connolly (mezzo-soprano), Allan Clayton (tenor), Gerald Finlay (bass), London Symphony Chorus (chorus director: Mariana Rosa), The Guildhall Singers, London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Barbican Hall, London. 28.1.2024. (JR)

Sir Antonio Pappano conducts Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha (soprano), Gerald Finley (bass) and the LSO © Mark Allan

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Stundyte stands in for the indisposed Stemme and has an entirely different take on Elektra at Covent Garden

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Richard Strauss, Elektra: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 15.1.2024. (JR)

A scene from Christof Loy’s Elektra: Charles Workman (Ägisth) Łukasz Goliński (Orest) Michael Mofidian (Orest’s Companion) © Tristram Kenton

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Graceful, stylish Christmas Oratorio from Suzuki and the OAE at the Queen Elizabeth Hall

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Bach: Jessica Cale (soprano), Hugh Cutting (countertenor), Guy Cutting (tenor), Florian Störtz (bass-baritone), Chorus and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Masaaki Suzuki (conductor). Queen Elizabeth Hall, London 2&3.12.2023. (JR)

The OAE conducted by Masaaki Suzuki with Jessica Cale (soprano) and Florian Störtz (bass-baritone) © Mark Allan

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Cav and Pag: Michieletto’s splendid production at Covent Garden is revived once again

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Daniel Oren (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 30.11.2023. (JR)

Pagliacci: Dimitri Platanias (Tonio) and Jorge de Léon (Canio) © Marc Brenner

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Elder statesman steps in to conduct a majestic Mahler’s Third with the LPO at the Royal Festival Hall

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mahler: Alice Coote (mezzo-soprano), London Philharmonic Choir (chorus director: Madeleine Venner), Trinity Boys Choir (chorusmaster: David Swinson) London Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Mark Elder (conductor), Royal Festival Hall, London 25.11.2023. (JR)

Sir Mark Elder © Alex Burns

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The Bach Choir are powerful and affecting in Brahms’s A German Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Coleridge-Taylor, Beach, Brahms: Claire Rutter (soprano), Katherine Gregory (mezzo-soprano), Harry Jacques (tenor), Ross Ramgobin (bass), The Bach Choir, Philharmonia Orchestra / David Hill (conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 2.11.2023. (JR)

David Hill conducting Ein deutsches Requiem with soloists Ross Ramgobin (bass), Claire Rutter (soprano), Katherine Gregory (mezzo-soprano) and Harry Jacques (tenor) © Andy Paradise

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