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Nikolai Lugansky ploughs his own furrow with mixed results

Posted on February 25, 2025July 26, 2025 by Michael Church
Nikolai Lugansky Wigmore Hall, London Nikolai Lugansky was a typical Soviet prodigy, able at five to learn a Beethoven sonata by ear, before he could even read music. As one of the last survivors of t... Read More

Review round-up for piano recitals in Spring 2025

Posted on February 25, 2025July 26, 2025 by Michael Church
Michael Church – live roundup March 2025   Wigmore Hall: Roman Rabinovich 17 Nov; Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, 27 Nov; Nikolai Lugansky 8 Dec; Kit Armstrong 22 Dec; Danny Driver 2 Jan 2025; Alim Beise... Read More

A hit and a terrible own-goal at ENO

Posted on February 25, 2025July 26, 2025 by Michael Church
The Marriage of Figaro Coliseum, London With ENO fighting for their life, it’s vital that their output should be top quality, so last week I sampled two nights in a row. First up was a revival of Mi... Read More

Splendour and misery at ENO – was there no doctor in the house?

Posted on February 10, 2025February 13, 2025 by Michael Church
The Marriage of Figaro Coliseum, London ★★ Michael Church With ENO fighting for their lives, it’s vital that their output should be top quality, so last week I sampled them two nights in a row. ... Read More

Don’t mess with Onegin, ROH!

Posted on September 25, 2024September 25, 2024 by Michael Church
Eugene Onegin Royal Opera House, London ★★ Michael Church Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin is the opera everyone loves. Ted Huffman’s new production comes heralded with this American director’s w... Read More

The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra on tour, and Barenboim’s faltering state

Posted on August 12, 2024August 13, 2024 by Michael Church
Prom 31 Anne-Sophie Mutter, Daniel Barenboim, and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra Royal Albert Hall With violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter and conductor Daniel Barenboim on stage, Prom 31 boasted two of t... Read More

Glyndebourne’s much-revived ‘Tristan und Isolde’ is still a winner

Posted on August 11, 2024August 12, 2024 by Michael Church
Tristan und Isolde Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes A German critic once truly opined that, in Tristan und Isolde, ‘on the stage walk sounds, not people’. Wagner was desperate to realise through... Read More

An inspired ‘Fairy Queen’

Posted on August 11, 2024August 12, 2024 by Michael Church
The Fairy Queen Les arts florissants, conducted by Paul Agnew; Compagnie Käfig, directed by Mourad Merzouki Royal Albert Hall: Prom 24 Sometimes a minority art-form can unexpectedly appear centre-sta... Read More

Michael Church – column in International Piano magazine May 2024

Posted on June 24, 2024June 30, 2024 by Michael Church
Michael Church – International Piano live roundup May 2024  Queen Elizabeth Hall: Marc-André Hamelin Feb 23 Wigmore Hall: Andras Schiff  March 3; Steven Osborne March 12; Pavel Kolesnikov and... Read More

The extraordinary Yuja Wang

Posted on June 24, 2024June 26, 2024 by Michael Church
Yuja Wang Royal Festival Hall, London Impoverished by Brexit, shunned by a Philistine government, and shockingly undermined by the Arts Council, classical music in Britain is going through unprecedent... Read More
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Recent Posts

  • Nikolai Lugansky ploughs his own furrow with mixed results
  • Review round-up for piano recitals in Spring 2025
  • A hit and a terrible own-goal at ENO
  • Splendour and misery at ENO – was there no doctor in the house?
  • Don’t mess with Onegin, ROH!

Recent Comments

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