BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Anja Bihlmaier conductor’ Jennifer Johnston – Judith; Christopher Purves -Bluebeard. Boulanger D’un soir triste; Kodály Dances of Galánta; Bartók Bluebeard’s Castle This was a very enjoyable concert, and well programmed too. The Boulanger piece seemed to have thematic and harmonic links with the Bartok piece at times, and shared a similarly gloomyContinue reading “Bartok, BBC Philharmonic, Bihlmaier, Bridgewater Hall, 24/1/26”
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The Makropoulos Case, Janacek – concert performance, LSO/Rattle, Barbican 15/1/26,
London Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle conductor; Marlis Petersen Emilia Marty; Aleš Briscein Albert Gregor; Jan Martiník Dr Kolenatý; Peter Hoare Vitek; Svatopluk Sem Baron Jaroslav Prus It’s a strange piece of programming to have this concert performance (the 2nd of two) happening only two months after the ROHCG production of the same work. However……thisContinue reading “The Makropoulos Case, Janacek – concert performance, LSO/Rattle, Barbican 15/1/26,”
Tristan und Isolde, Wagner – Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona – 12/1/26
Clay Hilley, Tristan; Brindley Sherratt, King Marke; Isolde, Lise Davidsen;Tomasz Konieczny, Kurwenal; Melot, Roger Padullés; Brangäne, Ekaterina Gubanova; A shepherd / A sailor, Albert Casals; Milan Perišić, A helmsman. Director, Bárbara Lluch; Scenery and lighting, Urs Schönebaum; Costumes, Clara Peluffo; Conductor Susanna Mälkki I spent a pleasant morning and early afternoon wandering around the centreContinue reading “Tristan und Isolde, Wagner – Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona – 12/1/26”
Handel, Messiah (extracts). Palau de la Música, Barcelona. 11/1/26
Irene Mas, soprano; Daniel Folqué, alto; Roger Padullés, tenor; Josep-Ramon Olivé, baritone; Cor de Cambra de Granollers; Vespres d’Arnadí; Xavier Puig, conductor The principal purpose of my visit to Barcelona was to hear Lise Davidsen singing the role of Isolde for the first time, but I am also taking in this concert of Messiah extracts andContinue reading “Handel, Messiah (extracts). Palau de la Música, Barcelona. 11/1/26”
An English Song Winterreise Wigmore Hall, 9/1/26
Roderick Williams baritone; Christopher Glynn piano. Songs by Vaughan Williams, Quilter, Dring, Finzi, Bridge, Parry, Gurney, Boyle, Britten, Williams, Weir, Tippett, Maconchy, Carwithen, Procter-Gregg, Wallen. I hadn’t appreciated that the reference in the programme to Winterreise wasn’t just a slightly fluffed up way of describing a gloomy set of English songs with a wintery theme,Continue reading “An English Song Winterreise Wigmore Hall, 9/1/26”
Thalassa Piano Trio, Regent Hall, 9/1/26
Thalassa Piano Trio. Beethoven, Piano Trio Op 70, no 2; Babajamian, Piano Trio in F# minor As often has been the case over the past few years, I have found myself planning to be at a Wigmore Hall recital – because there’s always something interesting happening there – the night before setting off on theContinue reading “Thalassa Piano Trio, Regent Hall, 9/1/26”
Live concert and opera highlights I have been to in 2025
It’s been another extraordinary year for high quality classical music performances I’ve attended. These are my top ten performance highlights, in no particular order: 1. Mahler Symphony No 2: Wong, Halle, Bridgewater Hall 2. R.Strauss, Arabella: Runnicles, Deutsche Oper Berlin 3. Wagner, Die Walkure: Pappano,. ROHCG 4. R.Strauss, Die Liebe der Danae: Bayern Staatsoper, Schager/Bystrom/MaltmanContinue reading “Live concert and opera highlights I have been to in 2025”
Turandot, Puccini – ROHCG – 18/12/25
Director, Andrei Șerban; Designer, Sally Jacobs; Lighting designer, F. Mitchell Dana; Conductor, Daniel Oren. Cast: Princess Turandot, Anna Netrebko; Calaf, Yusif Eyvazov; Liù, Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha; Timur, Rafał Siwek; Ping, Simone Del Savio; Pang, Emmanuel Fonoti-Fuimaono; Pong, James Kryshak; Emperor Altoum, Raúl Giménez; Mandarin, Ossian Huskinson I spent my day in London partly at myContinue reading “Turandot, Puccini – ROHCG – 18/12/25”
Ariodante, Handel – ROHCG – 17/12/25
Director, Jetske Mijnssen; Set designer, Etienne Pluss; Costume designer, Uta Meenen; Lighting designer, Fabrice Kebour; Conductor, Stefano Montanari. Cast: Ariodante, (Grace Durham replaced Emily D’Angelo); Ginevra, Jacquelyn Stucker; Dalinda, Elena Villalón; Polinesso, Christophe Dumaux; Lurcanio, Ed Lyon; King of Scotland, Peter Kellner; Odoardo, Emyr Lloyd Jones Yet another Handel opera I’ve (I think) not seenContinue reading “Ariodante, Handel – ROHCG – 17/12/25”
Partenope, Handel – ENO, 3/12/25
William Cole, Conductor; Christopher Alden, Director; Andrew Lieberman, Set Designer; Jon Morrell, Costume Designer; Adam Silverman, Lighting Designer. Nardus Williams, Partenope; Hugh Cutting, Arsace; Ru Charlesworth, Emilio; Jake Ingbar, Armindo; Katie Bray, Rosmira; William Thomas, Ormonte This Christopher Alden ENO production dates back to 2008 in a co-production with Opera Australia.. The production, set inContinue reading “Partenope, Handel – ENO, 3/12/25”
John's musical journey 