Monthly Archives: April 2016

Mixed verdict: Jommelli’s Vologeso thrown to the lions

Jommelli: Il Vologeso *** Classical Opera/Page, Cadogan Hall, 28th April 2016 There is no doubt that Niccolò Jommelli’s opera Il Vologeso, set in 2nd-century Ephesus, has an action-packed plot. The trouble is, all this action is confined to recitative which – … Continue reading

Posted in Concert, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mixed verdict: Jommelli’s Vologeso thrown to the lions

Downhill from Venusberg: a bland Tannhäuser revived at Covent Garden

Wagner: Tannhäuser *** The Royal Opera, 26th April 2016 At the heart of Tannhäuser is the hero’s struggle between spirituality and sensuality. Tim Albery’s 2010 production, receiving its first revival at Covent Garden, establishes this conflict within a stylish opening … Continue reading

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Downhill from Venusberg: a bland Tannhäuser revived at Covent Garden

Inspired by Shakespeare: a London gala to celebrate The Bard

Shakespeare400 Gala: LPO/Jurowski *** Royal Festival Hall, 23rd April 2016 “If music be the food of love, play on, give me excess of it.” There was certainly plenty of Shakespeare-inspired music on the bill for the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s celebration … Continue reading

Posted in Concert | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Inspired by Shakespeare: a London gala to celebrate The Bard

Polished Glass: a persuasive Ninth from the Bruckner Orchester Linz

Bruckner Orchester Linz/Russell Davies *** Cadogan Hall, 22nd April 2016 It’s easy to knock Philip Glass’ symphonies. Chugging rhythms, rippling arpeggios, a sense of bombast, numbing repetition – his compositional fingerprints are easy to decipher. Yet I find them pleasing, … Continue reading

Posted in Concert | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Polished Glass: a persuasive Ninth from the Bruckner Orchester Linz

Mattila delivers powerful Kostelnička in Czech Phil’s Jenůfa

Janáček: Jenůfa **** Czech Philharmonic/Bělohlávek, Royal Festival Hall, 18th April 2016 Let’s not pretend. Despite the photograph of Adriana Kohútková on the programme cover, the main draw of this concert performance of Janáček’s operaJenůfa was the appearance of Karita Mattila in the role … Continue reading

Posted in Concert, Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mattila delivers powerful Kostelnička in Czech Phil’s Jenůfa