Monthly Archives: June 2015

A bumpy ride: thrills and spills in the LSO’s Sibelius and Berlioz

Sibelius/Berlioz: LSO/Heras-Casado *** Barbican, 28th June 2015 Fire and ice. When the cool, steely tone of Joshua Bell’s ‘Huberman’ Stradivarius met the feverish impetuosity of Pablo Heras-Casado at the helm of the London Symphony Orchestra  for the final leg of … Continue reading

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Sonya Yoncheva: A ravishing portrait of Paris

Sonya Yoncheva: Paris, mon amour (Sony) “A last minute sensation!” screamed The New York Times about Sonya Yoncheva, stepping in at short notice as Mimì in The Metropolitan Opera’s La bohème last autumn. “She is the real deal.” London and … Continue reading

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Fright at the Museum: Slater’s Aida flops at Holland Park

Verdi: Aida ** Opera Holland Park, 24th June 2015 Third time unlucky? After a scorching start to the summer, with superb productions of Il trittico and Flight, Opera Holland Park’s season came unstuck with a horror of a show in … Continue reading

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When the voice alone is not enough: BBC Cardiff Singer prize eludes favourite

BBC Cardiff Singer, Grand Final St David’s Hall, Cardiff, 21st June 2015 Cardiff Castle hosted an entertaining bout of medieval jousting yesterday afternoon, but in the evening all eyes and ears turned to the vocal jousting in St David’s Hall. … Continue reading

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April’s first kiss: Susana Gaspar’s Mimì shines in a frustrating Bohème

Puccini: La bohème ** Grange Park Opera, 14th June 2015 La bohème: a classic of the operatic repertory. Many will recall with fondness a certain production or treasure a particular Rodolfo/ Mimì pairing. The challenge for any company presenting a new … Continue reading

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