A little corner of Lecce in Covent Garden Italy’s culinary landscape is incredibly diverse, with each region boasting unique ingredients, dishes, and cooking techniques. From the hearty pasta dishes of the north to the seafood-focused cuisine of the south, each region offers a distinct culinary experience. As one Italian told me, you will find every […]
Jephtha at the Royal Opera House
A Jephtha For Our Time After recent productions of Alcina and Arminio, the Royal Opera’s series of Handel’s “Covent Garden” operas and oratorios continues with the ROH’s Director of Opera Oliver Mears’ production of Jephtha, Handel’s final oratorio, with a libretto written by regular collaborator Rev. Thomas Morell. Composed in 1751 near the end of […]
Rigoletto – Royal Opera House 2023
Enkhbat brings Rigoletto’s psychological torment to life Oliver Mears’s Rigoletto is back at the Royal Opera House for the third time in as many years. The 2023 diverse cast features rising stars that are out to prove their mettle. And indeed they do: there are fantastic vocal performances all round. Rigoletto, tonight played by the […]
Don Carlo at the Royal Opera House
Superb Bertrand de Billy tames Verdi’s challenging masterpiece Don Carlo is a complicated beast. There are multiple versions (in both French and Italian), a turbulent historical setting and many meaty themes to navigate, not to mention a complex score and a pretty long run time. Despite, or perhaps because of the above, this opera in […]
Il Trovatore – Royal Opera House
A Grim Tale on Stage at the Royal Opera House Any new production should challenge audience perception and, if appropriate, help to provide a deeper insight into the work. Il Trovatore by Verdi is often seen as a challenging work to stage, best known for its unforgettable melodies but with a macabre and gruesome plot […]
UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey review
Feast for the senses with an urgent message It’s got lycra, a dazzling light show, strong political undertones and a fair bit of skin: no it’s not Eurovision, it’s Wayne McGregor’s UniVerse: A Dark Crystal Odyssey. This new ballet at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury theatre focuses on the future of mankind, whilst celebrating thirty […]
Woolf Works at the Royal Ballet
The remarkable Alessandra Ferri wows as Virginia Woolf Wayne McGregor’s first full-length work for the Royal Ballet in 2015 won the Olivier Award for Best New Dance Production – and it is now back at the Royal Ballet. Woolf Works features Alessandra Ferri (now almost 60) reprising her emotional performance in the titular role created […]
Mayerling – Royal Ballet Opening Production 2022
Kenneth MacMillan’s ballet – a true life story – the Mayerling incident It’s too easy to see the mental health issues of today’s world as a contemporary phenomenon. That’s at least partly because previous generations were shamed and sometimes even imprisoned for attempted suicide and, for the most part, any mental instability was covered up. […]
Mildred’s Covent Garden – Fresh, Vibrant and Plant Based.
Mildred’s brings its Plant-Based Cuisine to Covent Garden Mildred’s has now set up shop in the heart of Covent Garden, St Martin’s Lane. Since first opening in Soho in 1988, Mildreds has pioneered the plant-based scene in London with its fresh, vibrant and innovative dishes. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, Mildreds offers […]
Nabucco – Royal Opera House – Review
Daniele Abbado’s incandescent production of Nabucco lights up the Garden *Stop Press – Remaining performances for 2021 are cancelled* Nabucco was Verdi’s first great success as an opera composer. First produced at La Scala, Milan in 1842 under the title “Nabucodonosor” (Nebuchadnezzar in the anglicised form) it ended a torrid period in the composer’s life […]