Live Prom 1, BBC2 From the Independent, 29.8.2020 “We’re in for ninety minutes of heaven, in this Mecca of live music!” This is the first night of the Live Proms, and Katie Derham is in Radio 3 ...Read More
The First BBC Prom Radio 3 Well, here we are, with the inevitable promotional hype about these Proms-as-never-before. ‘Nothing stops this great festival’ trumpets the presenter, before inviting me...Read More
Fidelio Unbound Clerkenwell, London Live music is cautiously making its comeback, in many ways and in unexpected places. Bidden to a concert at the Fidelio restaurant on busy Clerkenwell Road, I ask f...Read More
Musicians are at a precipice – but does the government care? Given a fanatical Brexiteer cabinet fixated on impossible dreams, and some stunningly inadequate ministers in charge of important a...Read More
Susanna, Linbury Theatre, London How to prepare for the coming storm? Eat well, keep fit, and enjoy the pleasures which will soon be off the menu. It can’t be long before opera houses close their d...Read More
Fidelio, Royal Opera House On paper, director Tobias Kratzer’s rationale for his production of Beethoven’s Fidelio made persuasive sense. He started from the premise that Beethoven set his story ...Read More
Luisa Miller, English National Opera It gives me no pleasure to report that English National Opera, which last year produced a record number of turkeys, has kicked off this year with yet another one. ...Read More
Bach Choir/OAE/David Hill, Royal Festival Hall, London The Southbank Centre may no longer be London’s principal haven for classical music – years of wayward leadership have taken their toll R...Read More
Claron McFadden/Alexander Melnikov, Wigmore Hall, London On comes Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov, looking questioning and quizzical; on saunters American soprano Claron McFadden with the rolling...Read More
Otello, Royal Opera House While English National Opera, under its current leadership, produces nothing but flops, the Royal Opera remains splendidly on track. Hot on the heels of David McVicar’s s...Read More