I have a spare £9 rehearsal ticket for this evening’s Marriage of Figaro rehearsal in row L amphitheatre if anyone would like it.  The ticket says restricted view because there is a ledge in front but unless you are very small (I am 5’3” and can see perfectly) there should be no problems at all, added to which there is no one seated in front.  Please reply and DM if you would like it.  ..read more

It has just been announced that Errollyn Wallen has been appointed the first black woman to become Master of King's Music. I happened by chance to hear her on Desert Island Discs in July and her life story was absolutely fascinating. The first career she dreamt of was as a ballet dancer, until she was told that there were no black dancers in ballet. Instead, inspired by Chopin, she concentrated on piano and music more generally but eventually missed dance so much that she took training at Urdang, and then Dance Theater of Harlem. One of the pieces of music she chose was Stravinsky's Firebird a ..read more

Despite dying lonely and forgotten, Pavel's story is going global.  I am aware that subjects of this sort are contentious here so I will not add any  thoughts of my own.    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj35lk4x86yo   https://slippedisc.com/2024/08/barenboim-and-rattle-issue-tribute-to-pianist-who-died-in-putins-prison/         ..read more

Since this forum isn't limited to classical music only, I thought I'd post the news that Bruce Springsteen will be the "castaway" on Desert Island Discs on Radio 4, 11.15 am on Sunday 18th December.   (And then you can switch straight over to Private Passions on Radio 3, where Edward Watson is the guest ..read more

Interesting online commentary from Alastair Macaulay:   https://www.instagram.com/p/C9rkBHMoNEE/?igsh=MTJ5bjcya2Qza29saA%3D%3D&img_index=1     ..read more

About time too! I'm amazed he wasn't already. Congratulations Sir John ..read more

Press Release 13 June 2024   Philharmonia Orchestra announces Vidya Patel as Artist in Residence for the 24/25 Season Vidya Patel photographed by Marina Vidor The Philharmonia Orchestra announces today that Vidya Patel will be its Artist in Residence for the 2024/25 Season. Now in its fourth year, the Artist in Residence initiative has previously featured House of Absolute (21/22), Love Ssega (22/23) and Soumik Datta (23/34). Vidya will be working with the Philharmonia and a group of musicians over the next 12 months to develop a new project that blends toget ..read more

It's that time of year again, with the country house opera seasons under way.  I'm a fan, but admit that it is expensive, in fact if you wonder what unsubsidised opera would cost, just take a look at the pricing.  Also you need a car, or, as in my case, need a fellow opera fanatic happy to act as chauffeur.  Although some offer transport to railway stations, late finishes are a problem for those with onward journeys.   This week I went to the opening night at Garsington (near Stokenchurch), it was a bit chilly, but that is a risk you have to take.  It is a mile and a h ..read more

For those of you who already know soprano Ermonela Jaho's sublime singing well, you probably already have your alarm all set for today's free livestream of her recital from Wigmore Hall accompanied by Carlo Rizzi on piano and (his brother) Marco Rizzi on violin of Verdi, Donizetti etc.    Those who don't, and are a bit bored or feeling cut off from the big smoke but enjoy the beauty of the sung word, do check this out. You can tune in from either the Wigmore Hall Facebook page,  the Opera Rara Facebook page or website. (Just type it in the names Opera Rara or Wigmore Hall). The ..read more

Cast sheet for tonight’s Gala:   https://static.roh.org.uk/digital/cast-sheets/Celebrating-22-Years-of-Antonio-Pappano-Cast-Sheet-16-May-2024.pdf ..read more