Articles

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Goddess Excellently Bright: Michaela Schuster and Tannhäuser [The Royal Opera’s Tannhäuser, 11 December 2010-2 January 2011]
Taking the role of Venus in Covent Garden’s new production of Wagner’s opera is Michaela Schuster… Most singers who arrive at London’s Royal Opera House are impressed by what they…
An Interview with Charles Dutoit – “I want to enjoy a little less pressure and a bit more flexibility!”
Ben Hogwood talks to Charles Dutoit about his first recording with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra as its artistic director and reveals that he wishes for a little more time to…
“The life of most of them was shortened by Stalin … but this explosion of the 1920s was so powerful… It was like a bomb in culture.” Alexander Raskatov [English National Opera’s A Dog’s Heart, opens 20 November 2010]
Ben Hogwood talks to Alexander Raskatov, the Russian composer of A Dog’s Heart co-commissioned by English National Opera and De Nederlandse Opera… Mikhail Bulgakov may have written his satirical novella…
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In the World of the Theatre: Charles Edwards and Adriana Lecouvreur [The Royal Opera’s Adriana Lecouvreur, 18 November-10 December 2010]
Mansel Stimpson talks to Charles Edwards the noted British set designer about his work on a new production of Francesco Cilea’s best-known opera… When you have director David McVicar and…
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Feature Review: Roundhouse Zappa Festival – A Celebration of his Life and Music
On the occasion of what would have been Frank Zappa’s 70th-birthday Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London NW11 Friday, Saturday & Sunday, November 5-7, 2010 My sixth-form English teacher was fond…
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“I’m really excited … it’s possibly going to be a ‘marmite’ production, our code for not knowing if people are going to like it or not…” Iain Paterson [ENO’s Don Giovanni, opens 6 November 2010]
Ben Hogwood talks to Iain Paterson who takes the title-role in English National Opera’s Rufus Norris-directed production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni… This season at English National Opera is a remarkably…
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Elgar: The Man behind the Mask [John Bridcut’s film]
At a preview of this film (2010), shown on 26 October in a London hotel, John Bridcut spoke of the deep impression that Ken Russell’s 1962 documentary on Elgar had…
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Feature Review – Helmut Lachenmann Weekend, Southbank Centre, London
Lachenmann String Quartet No.1, ‘Gran Torso’ String Quartet No.3, ‘Grido’ Arditti Quartet [Irvine Arditti & Ashot Sarkissjan (violins), Ralf Ehlers (viola) & Lucas Fels (cello)] Lachenmann Ein Kinderspiel Pression Toccatina…
Feature Review: Mahler 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 & 8 – Mariinsky Orchestra/Gergiev in New York
Mahler Symphony No.6 [17 October 2010] Symphony No.2 (Resurrection) [20 October 2010] Symphony No.8 [21 October 2010] Symphony No.5 [22 October 2010] Symphony No.4 & Symphony No.1 [24 October 2010]…
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The Singer as Actor: Stéphane Degout and Roméo et Juliette [The Royal Opera’s Roméo et Juliette, 26 October-17 November 2010]
Mansel Stimpson meets the French baritone who appears as Mercutio in Covent Garden’s revival of Gounod’s opera… When Gounod’s opera based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet opens on 26 October…