Category Archives: Reviews

reviews of opera, shows, concerts and film….

Royal Opera House: Gloriana – a sad spectacle in every sense
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Gloriana – 6th July 2013 Benjamin Britten (1953) Director:Richard Jones Conductor: Paul Daniel Susan Bullock, Toby Spence, Mark Stone, Clive Bayley, Jeremy Carpenter, Kate Royal   Elizabeth I has long inspired a cult. She is honoured by her devotees as a cross … Continue reading

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Newly minted Murray 2013
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Wimbledon Champion, Andy Murray Victory has a thousand fathers; defeat is an orphan –  John F Kennedy, in aftermath of Bay of Pigs disaster, 1961 This time Last year Andy Murray had showed an unfamiliar emotional side to his character in … Continue reading

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Part III of Covent Garden Season: Don Carlos – o don fatale, o don crudel
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Don Carlos. G Verdi  after F. Schiller    Don Carlo ( when performed in Italian) Royal Opera House Covent Garden 25th May 2013 Production by Nicholas Hytner (revival), conducted by Antonio Pappano with Roberto Aronica (Don Carlo), Lianna Haroutounian (Elisabetta), Mariusz Kwiecien … Continue reading

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Part II: Covent Garden Season – Of Lakes & Ladies; Waving & Sinking
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La donna del Lago G.Rossini La donna del lago. Royal Opera House Covent Garden New production premiere directed by John Fulljames with sets by Dick Bird, costumes by Yannis Thavoris, and lighting by Bruno Poet. Conducted by Michele Mariotti with … Continue reading

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Part I: Season at Covent Garden – sometimes Opera works sometimes it doesn’t
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Reviews from the Spring Season at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden My excuse is that spring has been late arriving and ergo my reviews are late blooming as opposed to bloomin’ late. This Spring and Summer season is full of … Continue reading

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Law v. Love – Courts of Justice, 1967
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From:  Cashel, tales of the emigres If you subject Love to the common law-No matter what the judgment you intend You make uncommon Love a common whore an outcome which no lawyer ought defend. If Law declares a crime where … Continue reading

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Pretty Yende at the Wigmore Hall 6th June 2013

Wigmore Hall 6th June 2013 Pretty Yende with James Vaughan   Pretty Yende made her recital debut at Wigmore Hall, performing a programme of songs by Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Liszt, Debussy, Weill, Gershwin and Bernstein. James Vaughan provided accompaniment.   … Continue reading

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At classical Monday Pops… Part III – Late Febraury 2013
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Wigmore Hall : Monday 27th February Bernarda Fink & Rodolfo Richter: Academy of Ancient Music The Italian Baroque:   Veracini Overture in G minor; Merula Aria: Hor ch’è tempo di dormire; Vivaldi Concerto in E for violin RV271 ‘L’amoroso’, Aria: Sovvente il … Continue reading

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At classical Monday Pops… Part I: Janaury to February
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Of masses and fugues and “ops” The lack of reviews may lead my few readers to believe or – perhaps be relieved to believe –  that I have not been to see or hear anything since Christmas. My silence stands to be corrected. So here, collected into a single whine, … Continue reading

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Sacramento Opera 16th November – Gioachino Rossini Barber of Seville

Sacramento Opera 16th November – Gioachino Rossini Barber of Seville (1816 Rome) Libretto by Cesare Sterbini after Pierre – Augustin Beaumarchais’ Le barbier de Séville CAST Count  Alamviva :  Thomas Glenn Dr Bartolo: Stephen Eisenhard Rosina: Leah Wool Figaro ( a … Continue reading

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