Director, Richard Jones; Set designer, Miriam Buether; Costume designer, Nicky Gillibrand; Lighting designer, Lucy Carter; Edward Gardner, conductor. Cast – Christian, Allan Clayton; Michael, Stéphane Degout; Helge, Gerald Finley; Else, Rosie Aldridge; Helena, Natalya Romaniw; Helmut. Thomas Oliemans; Grandma, Susan Bickley; Mette, Philippa Boyle; Gbatokai, Peter Brathwaite; Linda, Marta Fontanals-Simmons; Chef, Aled Hall; Lars, JulianContinue reading “Turnage: Festen, ROHCG, 24/2/25”
Author Archives: John
Wagner: Das Rheingold. Regents Opera, York Hall Bethnal Green: 23/2/25
Woglinde: Jillian Finnamore; Wellgunde: Justine Viani; Flosshilde: Mae Heydorn; Alberich: Oliver Gibbs;Wotan: Ralf Lukas; Fricka: Ingeborg Børch; Loge: James Schouten; Donner: Andrew Mayor; Freia: Charlotte Richardson; Froh: Calvin Lee; Mime: Holden Madagame; Fasolt: Henry Grant Kerswell; Fafner: Craig Lemont Walters; Erda: Mae Heydorn; Ben Woodward: Music Director and Conductor; Caroline Staunton: Director; CJ Heaver: ProducerContinue reading “Wagner: Das Rheingold. Regents Opera, York Hall Bethnal Green: 23/2/25”
Regents Opera Ring cycle – York Hall, Bethnal Green 23/2/25 – 2/3/25
As various commentators have pointed out, Regents Opera should now be regarded as an opera company full stop, not a ‘fringe’ one, albeit a small company requiring some radical changes to be made in order to stage the Ring live before an audience. But The Ring is The Ring is The Ring and it isContinue reading “Regents Opera Ring cycle – York Hall, Bethnal Green 23/2/25 – 2/3/25”
Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro, ENO, 17/2/25
Ainārs Rubiķis, Conductor; Joe Hill-Gibbins, Director; Johannes Schütz, Set Designer; Astrid Klein,Costume Designer; Matthew Richardson, Lighting Designer.Cast: Mary Bevan,Susanna; David Ireland, Figaro; Neal Davies, Dr Bartolo; Rebecca Evans, Marcellina; Hanna Hipp, Cherubino; Hubert Francis, Don Basilio / Don Curzio; Nardus Williams, Countess Almaviva; Cody Quattlebaum, Count Almaviva; Trevor Eliot Bowes, Antonio; Ava Dodd, Barbarina ThisContinue reading “Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro, ENO, 17/2/25”
Wagner, The Flying Dutchman. Opera North, Leeds Grand Theatre: 14/2/25
Robert Hayward, The Dutchman; Layla Claire, Senta; Thomas D. Hopkinson, Daland; Edgaras Montvidas, Erik / Steuermann; Molly Barker, Mary. Garry Walker, Conductor; Annabel Arden, Director; Joanna Parker; Set, Costume & Video Designer; Kevin Treacy, Lighting Designer I have never in my life been to Leeds before, let alone the Grand Theatre….which is indeed Grand, almostContinue reading “Wagner, The Flying Dutchman. Opera North, Leeds Grand Theatre: 14/2/25”
LSO, Pappano; Barbican, 9/2/25
Maconchy Nocturne for Orchestra; Walton Cello Concerto; Vaughan Williams Symphony No 1, A Sea Symphony. London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Antonio Pappano conductor; Rebecca Gilliver cello; Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha soprano; Will Liverman baritone, London Symphony Chorus This was quite a generous programme time-wise – looking at the LSO;s 24/25 season overall I get the sense TonyContinue reading “LSO, Pappano; Barbican, 9/2/25”
Leonkoro Quartet; Stoller Hall, Manchester, 5/2/25
Haydn String Quartet, Op. 50 No. 5 ‘Dream’; Berg Lyric Suite for String Quartet; Ravel String Quartet Op. 35 This String Quartet was founded in Berlin in 2019 and in 2022 they were awarded first prize at the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet competition. The name means ‘Lionheart’ in Esperanto…….. This was a varied concert.Continue reading “Leonkoro Quartet; Stoller Hall, Manchester, 5/2/25”
Janacek, Jenufa: ROHCG, 23/1/25
Conductor, Jakub Hrůša; Jenůfa, Corinne Winters; Kostelničke a Buryjovka, Karita Mattila; Števa Buryja, Thomas Atkins; Laca Klemeň, Nicky Spence; Grandmother Buryjovka, Hanna Schwarz; Foreman, James Cleverton; Mayor, Jonathan Lemalu; Mayor’s Wife, Marie McLaughlin; Karolka, Valentina Puskás; Jana, Isabela DíazThis is the 4th live performance I have heard of Jenufa in the last 4 years, andContinue reading “Janacek, Jenufa: ROHCG, 23/1/25”
Mahler 2, Halle, Wong: Bridgewater Hall, 16/1/25
Kahchun Wong conductor, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha soprano, Sarah Connolly mezzo-soprano, Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Choir: Mahler Symphony No.2, ‘Resurrection’ I first heard Mahler 2 live in 1968, with Haitink, and have been to many fine performances since – it’s a work that seems to bring out the best in performers and, really, I can sayContinue reading “Mahler 2, Halle, Wong: Bridgewater Hall, 16/1/25”
Brahms, LSO, Rattle: Barbican, 9/1/25
Boulez, Éclat; George Benjamin, Interludes and Aria from Lessons in Love and Violence (world premiere); Brahms Symphony No 4. London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle conductor; Barbara Hannigan soprano It was nice to be back in a concert hall after 4 weeks with no live music. This was not a very generous concert, time-wise [thoughContinue reading “Brahms, LSO, Rattle: Barbican, 9/1/25”
John's musical journey 