Reviews
Written in 1791 the last year of Mozart’s life La Clemenza di Tito is based on Metastasio’s pre-dated by 50 years’ libretto (adapted by Caterino Mazzolà). It is less well known than the four earlier Mozart operas (the three da ponte comedies and the singspiel Die Zauberflöte)
Reviews
My first night during this brief autumnal sojourn in Vienna, city of dreams was simply a delight. Boasting four venues for opera (among ballet, musicals and operetta) the legendary Staatsoper is by far and away one of the great opera houses of the world. Indeed this year it celebrates its
Reviews
Sunday 29th September saw a jam-packed Tata Theatre in anticipation of legendary Japanese-American violinist Midori’s long sold-out recital. She had flown in from Colombo and played in Pune the night before. Nursing a cold her thorough professionalism saw her through the demanding programme with unflinching determination.
Reviews
On 15th September at the Experimental theatre the sell-out audience was treated to a rare occasion. A piano-duet partnership that sparkled with virtuosity and convinced with refined musicianship. The two pianists were the husband and wife team of Alessandra Ammara and Roberto Prosseda, both versatile and virtuoso pianists
Reviews
31ST MARCH German diva Diana Damrau in her last slated concert of her Strauss LSO residency was to appear on 31st March at the Barbican. She had programmed the world premiere of Iain Bell’s song cycle The Hidden Place (2009) and the closing scene from Strauss’ conversation piece Capriccio.
Reviews
Three star singers appeared on stage together in a unique and intelligently devised programme. The three singers were English soprano Sophie Bevan, Welsh mezzo soprano Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Welsh bass-baritone Neal Davies. And the raison d’etre? These three singers happened to be in Mumbai to sing in
Reviews
Yo-Yo Ma remains quite easily one of the top five string players in the world and quite possibly the last surviving heavy-weight cellist of his generation. With the recent announcement of Lynn Harrell’s death, Yo-Yo Ma has no competitors alive. Put quite plainly he is the
Reviews
Parma in northern Italy nestled in the region of Emilia-Romagna is a well kept secret among Italians. Famous for its architecture, art, music, ham, cheese and surrounding countryside it is also home to one of the oldest universities in the world. What is less known is that every year
Reviews
DAY ONE The Volksoper at Währinger Straße is Vienna’s main stage for operetta musicals and ballet. Johann Strauss, Franz Lehár, Emmerich Kálmán wrote their works brimming with world famous melodies for this theatre. On 17th September I saw the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd - six Tony Awards winner in
Reviews
DAY ONE Wednesday 19th September was a red letter day. I turned up well in time to take my seat in the orchestra stalls not knowing what to expect. At 8 o’clock sharp two men in full evening dress strode on to the stage and launched straight away into
Reviews
The marvellous Italian mezzo Cecilia Bartoli produced and sang in this remarkable festive semi-staged performance of Rossini’s timeless comedy La Cenerentola. She started her career at the age of 19 with the music of Rossini and it is with this composer that her gifts are most closely allied.
Reviews
Last but by no mean least was the turn of the London Philharmonic - a beautifully streamlined sound and a high level of musicality. This performance had a special glow to it not least because of conductor Marin Alsop’s mercurial direction. She chose her own arrangement of the Suite from