Monthly Archives: February 2017

Telling Tales: Danyal Dhondy’s Shahrazad unveiled at Leighton House

Dhondy: Shahrazad *** Opera Vera, Leighton House, 11th February 2017 Under the gilded dome of Leighton House’s Arab Hall, lined with exquisite blue and white Islamic tiles, a violinist riffs themes from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. She is accompanied sporadically by a … Continue reading

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A tale of two tenors as Méhul is celebrated by the OAE

Méhul et al: OAE/Cohen **** St John’s Smith Square, 10th February 2017 Étienne-Nicolas Méhul’s music isn’t familiar to most concert-goers. The only work which I know is his First Symphony, the finale of which contains a motif so similar to … Continue reading

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Finding release among the poppy fields: Dmitri Tcherniakov’s powerful Prince Igor reaches Amsterdam

Borodin: Prince Igor **** Dutch National Opera, Amsterdam, 7th February 2017 When faced with Disaster rather than Triumph, how does a true leader respond? The ability to “watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build … Continue reading

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“Violetta is my life’s work”: Corinne Winters on Traviata and taking on new roles

Interview: Corinne Winters American soprano Corinne Winters shot to fame in the UK when she starred in Peter Konwitschny’s controversial staging of La traviata at English National Opera – a real tour de force for the soprano who is barely off-stage … Continue reading

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“The discomfort is actually the point”: Kate Lindsey on Così fan tutte in Aix… and playing boys

Interview: Kate Lindsey For mezzo-sopranos, playing boys comes with the job. Kate Lindsey’s last three roles in London have been Cherubino (the randy pageboy in Le nozze di Figaro), Lazuli (in Chabrier’s L’Étoile) and as Nicklausse, Hoffmann’s sidekick. It’s during … Continue reading

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