At Home He Feels Like A Tourist

Category: Opera

• Classical Music Culture Enlightenment Identity London Love Magic Opera Relationship

  The Magic Flute at the ENO review *****

  The Magic Flute English National Opera, 28th March 2019 I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. When opera works there is no other art form to touch. But when it doesn’t it can be mystifyingly dull. What’s more it can be the very same opera which is both…

  April 16, 2019
• Baroque Classical Music Concert Contemporary Classical Culture London Opera

  My top ten concerts and opera of 2018

  Just a list so I don’t forget. 1. A Midsummer Night’s Dream – English National Opera – 4th March Not quite a war-horse of a production but Robert Carsen’s version of Britten’s Shakespearean opera looks, sounds and, well, is just wonderful. 2. Ligeti in Wonderland – South Bank – 11th,…

  January 15, 2019
• Classical Music Concert Contemporary Classical Culture Ireland London Opera Theatre War

  The Silver Tassie at the Barbican review *****

  The Silver Tassie Barbican Hall, 10th November 2018 Mark-Anthony Turnage (composer) Amanda Holden (libretto) Ashley Riches – Harry Sally Matthews – Susie Brindley Sherratt – The Croucher Claire Booth – Mrs Foran Marcus Farnsworth – Teddy Alexander Robin Baker – Barney Louise Alder – Jessie Susan Bickley – Mrs Heegan…

  November 24, 2018
• Classical Music Culture London Musicals Opera USA

  Porgy and Bess at the ENO review ****

  Porgy and Bess English National Opera, 31st October 2018 It has been a long time coming. This co-production, together with the Met and the Dutch National Opera, is the first time it has appeared on the Coliseum stage. The re-written version, with book by Suzanne Lori-Parks, (which attracted the ire…

  November 4, 2018
• Baroque Classical Music Classics Culture Early Music London Opera Renaissance

  English Touring Opera at the Hackney Empire review ****

  English Touring Opera Hackney Empire, 12th October 2018 Purcell – Dido and Aeneas Carissimi – Jonas Gesualdo – I Will Not Speak I am partial to English Touring Opera’s productions. The repertoire tends to be up my street, with a bias to smaller, chamber and Baroque works, reflecting resources and…

  October 22, 2018
• Classical Music Contemporary Classical Culture London Opera Renaissance Theatre

  The Second Violinist at the Barbican review ***

  The Second Violinist Barbican Theatre 7th September 2018 Ok so I bought a ticket here on a bit of a whim and because it garnered some awards on its premiere in Ireland. Now I know from past experience that the playwright Enda Walsh is not a man who likes to…

  September 18, 2018
• Classical Music Contemporary Classical London Opera Theatre

  Greek at the Arcola Theatre review *****

  Greek Grimeborn, Arcola Theatre, 13th August 2018 It is a shame Steven Berkoff’s plays don’t get performed more often. They do, like the stage, film and TV villains he has memorably played, (there he is above doing the menacing thing), sometimes lapse into “in yer face” cliche, but at their…

  August 27, 2018
• Classical Music Culture London Opera Theatre

  The Rape of Lucretia at the Arcola Theatre review ****

  The Rape of Lucretia Grimeborn, Arcola Theatre, 1st August 2018 The Rape of Lucretia is a story with a long historical and artistic pedigree. It lies at the heart of the creation legend of the founding of the Roman Republic in the late 500s BCE, was documented by Livy and…

  August 27, 2018
• Classical Music Culture London Opera

  The Turn of the Screw at the Open Air Theatre review *****

  The Turn of the Screw Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, ENO, 29th June 2018 Benjamin Britten. The Turn of the Screw. Members of the ENO Orchestra conducted by up and coming talent Toby Purser. Timothy Sheader directing. A Soutra Gilmour set. At the Open Air Theatre. On a beautiful late…

  July 22, 2018
• Classical Music Contemporary Classical Culture Ecology London Opera

  Cave at the Printworks review ****

  Cave The Printworks, Surrey Quays, 23rd June 2018 Cave is the second collaboration between composer Tansy Davies and librettist Nick Drake. Their last work, Between Worlds, which took as its subject the Twin Towers on 9/11, was superb. It was an immensely moving and sensitive elegy which focussed on the…

  July 13, 2018