Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts a vibrant young group of musicians If someone asked you what to expect from a programme called 20th Century Classics, what would you pick? I’d definitely include some Stravinsky, with The Rite of Spring the obvious choice. How about a bit of Shostakovich, or Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie? For something a little more playful, […]
Tao of Glass
A Portrait of the Artist… The charismatic Phelim McDermott is the central figure in The Tao of Glass, a work that originated from a unique theatrical collaboration with the American minimalist composer Philip Glass. First staged as part of the 2019 Manchester International Festival, it tracks Phelim’s life from a young theatre-obsessed boy, to a […]
BBC Proms 2026 – Sibelius’s Second
Three Masterpieces, One Outstanding Prom How do you pick your Proms? Now that I’m not always in London, choosing which Proms to attend is a real challenge. The breadth of programming is extraordinary, often featuring orchestras and soloists who only appear in London once or twice a year. I try my best to balance going […]
RH London – Restaurant of the Month
Furniture and Food that’s a million miles from Ikea. How do you differentiate in the world of luxury? July’s restaurant of the month, RH London, might just be on to something. Visit their newest destination in Burlington Gardens – a stunning gallery, showroom and restaurants, and you’ll enjoy a few hours of immersive decadence. For […]
BBC Proms 2026 – Mahler’s Tragic Sixth.
A Summer of Classics in London and Beyond. For more than 130 years, the BBC Proms has been one of the highlights of the classical music calendar. Founded in 1895 by impresario Robert Newman and conductor Sir Henry Wood, the original Promenade Concerts were designed to bring great music to the widest possible audience, with […]
Ariadne Auf Naxos – Glyndebourne Opera
The Serious Business of Comedy It’s a sign of a great production when the audience leaves with a stronger understanding of the composer’s intentions than any synopsis could provide. That was certainly the case with last night’s Ariadne auf Naxos, a spellbinding new production from Laurent Pelly. While the idea of a play within a […]
The Barber of Seville at Grange Park Opera
The Theatre in the Woods – Grange Park Opera has the perfect setting We are having a blissful summer of Country House Operas. Each house has its distinct story, each one its own unique appeal. It’s hard to pick a favourite, but if I had to vote, Grange Park would certainly be a contender. Bamber […]
Eugene Onegin at The Grange
Love Letters from Russia It’s summer opera season, and we are enjoying a spectacular series of performances across southern England. The Grange, a new venue for me, is near Winchester in the heart of the Hampshire countryside, and I was lucky enough to catch one of the last performances of Eugene Onegin there this year. […]
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Regent’s Park Theatre
Rock and Roll Shakespeare Reaches Music Festival Heights “Sound, music! Come, my queen, take hands with me,And rock the ground whereon these sleepers be.” Perhaps it’s not surprising that A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been performed at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre more than 50 times since its first production there in 1933. The sylvian […]
Much Ado about Nothing – Globe Theatre
A Menagerie of Mischief in this high-energy new production Directed by Chelsea Walker, last night’s Much Ado About Nothing sets the Bard’s timeless work in a contemporary world. Remarkably, despite being more than four centuries old, the play’s concerns with status, reputation and public performance feel entirely contemporary. Status, desire and romance are seasoned with […]