Surgery never sounded so good Royal Academy of Music’s spring production this year was Die Zauberflöte. A potential pitfall for a student staging given the ubiquity of its music and the terrifying danger of missing a high F in der Hölle Rache. Despite the risks, the RAM carried it off with aplomb. Director Jamie Manton’s […]
The Magic Flute – Wilton’s Music Hall
This Magic Flute is a production well worth seeking out—breathing exhilarating new life into a cherished classic with wit, invention, and undeniable theatrical flair.
Summer in the City – The best outdoor arts events to book for this summer
f you find yourself spending summer in the city, there’s no reason to despair, you’ll find a plethora of fabulous events on hand to keep you amused. And, what could be better than watching your favourite opera, play or musical against a backdrop of the setting sun?
Phaedra + Minotaur at the Linbury
The flurry of four- and five-star reviews that poured from previous productions have resulted in Phaedra + Minotaur’s short stint at the Linbury being already sold out. Never fear, however, this feels like a production that will be revived once again.
The Marriage of Figaro – ENO
Everyone’s excited: it’s the opening night of the ENO’s first revival of Joe Hill-Gibbins’ production of The Marriage of Figaro – a show that ran only once before its forced end at the onset of the pandemic.
Top things to do on a visit to Sydney, Australia
When you think of Sydney the two images that probably immediately spring to mind are the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. There are many things to see and do in this beautiful Australian city on a city break.
Regents Opera – Don Giovanni
Scooby Don The peacocking libertine strides onto the stage to unfurl his finery. No glimmering collection of colour shock here. Rather, the embroidered listings of former conquests battle for space on the crowded lining. Poetasting aside, this is how Regents Opera begin its version of Don Giovanni with Leporello’s little black book replaced with a […]
Alcina – Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Too hot to Handel Handel’s Alcina sits comfortably next to Giulio Cesare and Ariodante in the roster of his finest pieces. Described by Edward Blakeman as “Wonderful from start to finish” it is one of the most accessible and successful baroque operas. Guildhall School are presenting it as one of their student performances. The vocal […]
The Rhinegold – English National Opera
ENO Strikes Wagnerian Gold In 2021, English National Opera announced a five-year plan to stage Richard Wagner’s The Ring cycle of four operas at the London Coliseum in a co-production with New York’s Metropolitan Opera. The ENO kicked things off in 2021 with The Valkyrie, the second of the operas, directed by eight-time Olivier Award-winner […]
Tannhäuser – Royal Opera House – Review
A First Night Tannhäuser with a Silent Minstrel The last time I was at the opera house when a lead withdrew at short notice, it was in Tosca, where a clearly unwell Bryan Hymel managed the first act as Cavaradossi before an enthusiastic Freddie di Tommasso lurking in the wings, getting ready for his own […]