Tag Archives: Ashley Riches

Beethoven keeps the flame burning: Salonen and the Philharmonia recreate the 1808 Akademie

Beethoven: 1808 Reconstructed Salonen/ Philharmonia, Royal Festival Hall, 15th March 2020 The legendary Akademie at the Theater an der Wien on 22nd December 1808 was quite an event: a benefit concert for Ludwig van Beethoven, stuffed with premieres. Some of … Continue reading

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Berlioz with a bronze glow as Benvenuto Cellini crowns 150th anniversary

Prom 59: Benvenuto Cellini Gardiner/ ORR, Royal Albert Hall, 2nd September 2019 “Concert performance” the Proms Guide had announced, primly underselling what turned out to be an exuberant “production” – fully costumed, if without many actual props – of Berlioz’ … Continue reading

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Don Giovanni all at sea at Opera Holland Park

Mozart: Don Giovanni ** Opera Holland Park, 3rd June 2017 This production opens like the perfect whodunnit. Passengers embark with their luggage aboard an ocean liner for a transatlantic cruise, busily locating their cabins. Within moments there’s an attempted rape, … Continue reading

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A heroine on heroin: ENO’s cold Bohème lacks heart

Puccini: La bohème ** English National Opera, 16th October 2015 Did anyone hear sobbing? La bohème is one of the great operatic tear-jerkers, yet Benedict Andrews’ new production for English National Opera, previously seen in Amsterdam, left me dry-eyed. Judging by the … Continue reading

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Wedding chaos, deception and duplicity in Garsington’s Così fan tutte

Mozart: Così fan tutte **** Garsington Opera, 5th June 2015 Weddings bring out the cynic in me. They also bring out the cynic in Don Alfonso and it’s at a wedding breakfast that John Fulljames sets his production of Così fan tutte, … Continue reading

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