Author Archives: John

Mahler Symphony No 2 in C minor: Gewandhaus Orchestra, MDR Radio Choir, Andris Nelsons conductor, Ying Fang soprano, Gerhild Romberger mezzo-soprano Well, here I am in Leipzig with 11 days of concerts and talks all focused on Mahler (and some of his contemporaries). I am intending to have side trips to Eisenach (the Bach HouseContinue reading “Mahler 2, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Leipzig Mahler Festival 18/5/23”

Bach The Art Of Fugue, Contrapunctus 14; Beethoven Septet; Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor The programme for this afternoon concert was slightly re-arranged, so that the Bach was followed by the Brahms and with the Beethoven then in the 2nd half, Unfortunately, it was really the Brahms I had come to hear, and asContinue reading “Bach, Beethoven And Brahms; Kathryn Stott & Ensemble 360, Crucible Playhouse, Sheffield 15/5/23”

Francis Gush, Julius Caesar; Susanna Hurrell, Cleopatra; Alexander Chance, Tolomeo; Carolyn Dobbin, Cornelia;  Margo Arsane, Sesto; Edward Hawkins, Achilla; Kieron-Connor Valentine, Nireno . Orchestra, The Old Street Band, conducted by Sergey Rybin. Director, James Conway; Cordelia Chisholm, Designer I went to a performance of this in Manchester about 4 years, from Opera North. Other thanContinue reading “Handel – Giulio Cesare; ETO, Buxton Opera House, 11/5/23”

Conductor, André Callegaro; Orchestra, Early Opera Company; Arminio, Gabrielė Kupšytė; Tusnelda, Sarah Dufresne; Segeste, Josef Jeongmeen Ahn; Varus, Michael Gibson; Sigismondo, Isabelle Peters; Ramise, Kamilla Dunstan; Tullio, Kamohelo Tsotetsi. Director, Mathilda Du Tillieul Mcnicol; Set and Costume Designer, Noemi Daboczi; Lighting, D.M.Wood This opera is based on events surrounding the Germanic leader Arminius’ leadership ofContinue reading “Arminio, Handel: ROHCG Linbury Theatre; 06/05/23”

Falla La Vida Breve: Interlude and Dance; Bartók Violin Concerto No.2; Dobrinka Tabakova Earth Suite: Pacific; Stravinsky The Rite of Spring: Christian Reif conductor; Antje Weithaas, violin Oddly this is only the second time I have been to the Bridgewater Hall this season – I have been to the Barbican more often……I’m not quite sure why; I guess I amContinue reading “Falla, Bartok, Tabakova, Stravinsky: Halle, Reif, Bridgewater Hall, 20/4/23”

Conductor, Simone Young; Director, Robert Carsen; Set Designer, Paul Steinberg; Costume Designer, Brigitte Reiffenstuel; Lighting Designers, Robert Carsen & Peter Van Praet; Revival Stage Director, Paula Suozzi. Cast – Marschallin, Lise Davidsen; Sophie, Erin Morley; Octavian, Samantha Hankey ; Annina, Katharine Goeldner; Italian Singer, René Barbera ; Valzacchi, Thomas Ebenstein; Faninal, Brian Mulligan; Baron Ochs,Continue reading “Der Rosenkavalier, R Strauss: Metropolitan Opera live screening, Curzon Sheffield cinema, 15/4/23”

Director, Simon Stone; Set Designer, Chloe Lamford; Costume Designer, Mel Page; Lighting Designer, James Farncombe; Choreographer, Arco Renz. Conductor, Susanna Malkki. Cast – The Waitress (Tereza), Jenny Carlstedt; The Mother-In-Law (Patricia), Sandrine Piau; The Father-In-Law (Henrik), Christopher Purves; The Bride (Stela), Lilian Farahani; The Bridegroom (Tuomas), Markus Nykanen; The Priest, Timo Riihonen; The Teacher (Cecilia),Continue reading “Innocence, Kaija Saariaho; ROHCG, 14/4/23 (dress rehearsal)”

Conducted by Antonio Pappano; Turandot, Catherine Foster;  Calaf, Russell Thomas; Liù, Ermonela Jaho; Timur, Vitalij Kowaljow; Ping, Hansung Yoo; Pang, Aled Hall; Pong, Michael Gibson; Emperor Altoum, Alexander Kravets; Mandarin, Blaise Malaba. Director, Andrei Serban; Set Designer, Sally Jacobs; Lighting, F. Mitchell Dana; Revival Director, Jack Furness Despite my concerns about this work, voiced hereContinue reading “Turandot, Puccini – ROHCG, 6/4/23”

Michael Volle, Falstaff; Ailyn Pérez, Alice Ford; Jennifer Johnson Cano, Meg Page; Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Mistress Quickly; Hera Hyesang Park. Bogdan Volkov. Nannetta and Fenton; Christopher Maltmann, Ford. Daniele Rustioni, conductor; Robert Carsen, director; Paul Steinberg, designer; Brigitte Reiffenstuel, costumes; Robert Carsen and Peter Van Praet, lighting I’ve seen a number of productions of Falstaff overContinue reading “Verdi, Falstaff – Metropolitan Opera, New York, live screened to Curzon Cinema Sheffield”

Kirill Karabits, Conductor; Annilese Miskimmon, Director; Miriam Buether, Set Designer; Jess Farncombe, Lighting Designer; Rolf Romei, Paul; Allison Oakes, Marietta and Voice of Marie; Lauren Bridle, Marie; Audun Iversen, Frank/Fritz; Hubert Francis, Graf Albert; Sarah Connolly. Brigitta; Rhian Lois, Juliette; Clare-Presland, Lucienne; William Morgan, Victorin; Innocent Masuku, Gastone Die Tote Stadt is a work IContinue reading “The Dead City. Korngold; ENO 28/3/23”