Giulio Cesare at the Barbican; La finta giardiniera from Salzburg (DVD)

Rene Jacobs conducts Giulio Cesare at the Barbican:

www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/cesare.htm


La finta giardiniera DVD (Deutsche Grammophon):

www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/finta.htm

Netrebko and Villazon Duets; Dom Sebastien

New CD reviews:

Rolando Villazon and Anna Netrebko duet their way through Verdi, Massenet, Bizet and others:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/netrebko-villazon.htm

Donizetti's last opera, Dom Sebastien, roi de Portugal, comes in a sublime live recording from Covent Garden:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/sebastien.htm

Stiffelio returns to Covent Garden

After a twelve-year absence, Verdi's sixteenth opera returns to the Royal Opera House with Jose Cura in the title role:

www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/stiffelio.htm

Anthony Michaels-Moore in concert

St John's, Smith Square

Recital with Anthony Michaels-Moore:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/amm.htm

Jacques Imbrailo on Owen Wingrave

The young baritone, who is this year's South African entrant for the prestigious Cardiff Singer of the World competition, talks about his role in the Royal Opera's production of Britten's Owen Wingrave in the Linbury Studio Theatre:

www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/imbrailo.htm

ENO announces the 2007-8 Sky Arts Season

English National Opera has announced details of their 2007-8 season, which is sponsored by Sky Arts as part of a unique £5 million, six-year deal. The eleven new productions and three revivals include Aida, Carmen, The Turn of the Screw and Der Rosenkavalier.

For more details see www.musicalcriticism.com/news/eno-2007.htm

Andras Schiff and Friends talk about the QEH's Bartok Festival

A special preview feature with interviews and commentary on the forthcoming Bartok festival curated by Andras Schiff at the Queen Elizabeth Hall:

www.musicalcriticism.com/news/schiff-feature.htm

Rossini: Salon Songs

Miah Persson and Bruce Ford sing Rossini songs at the Queen Elizabeth Hall:

www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/rossini.htm

Satyagraha, Nicole Cabell, Maria Stuarda, Nina Stemme's Strauss

Review of the UK premiere of Glass' Satyagraha:

www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/satyagraha.htm

Nicole Cabell's sensational debut CD:

www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/cabell.htm

Opera Rara: Mercadante's Maria Stuarda, regina di Scozia:

www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/maria.htm

Nina Stemme: Strauss' Four Last Songs:

www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/strauss.htm

Jose Cura interview

Jose Cura talks about his role in Verdi's Stiffelio - and his desire to play the title role in Britten's Peter Grimes:

www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/cura.htm

The Royal Opera announces the 2007-8 season

The Royal Opera has announced the 2007-8 season, including new productions of Verdi's Don Carlo and Strauss' Salome, as well as returns for La traviata, Carmen, Simon Boccanegra, Le nozze di Figaro, The Magic Flute and Tosca.

For more info, see:

www.musicalcriticism.com/news/roh-2007.htm

Royal Opera Double Bill: L'Heure espagnole and Gianni Schicchi

Read the review in full here:

www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/double-bill.htm

Edinburgh Festival 2007-8 Preview

Finally announced, this year's festival features a string of operas and concerts on themes that go to the very heart of the business of making music:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/edinburgh-2007.htm


Also of interest: the new season at the Royal Festival Hall:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/sbc-2007.htm

Update: Holl/Schiff, Barbican Preview et al

New and recent articles of interest:

Schubert Lieder at QEH with Robert Holl and Andras Schiff
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/holl-schiff.htm

Great Performers at the Barbican Preview 2007-8
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/barbican-2007.htm

Interview with the mezzo-soprano Christine Rice on her forthcoming ROH role
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/rice.htm

Simon Rattle's new recording of Brahms' German Requiem
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/brahms-requiem.htm

Opera Holland Park's eclectic Summer 2007 Preview
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/ohp-2007.htm

The LSO's new recording of Sibelius Symphony No 2 and Pohjola's Daughter with Colin Davis
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/lso-sibelius-2.htm

Bryn Terfel and Sarah Connolly at the Barbican
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/bbcso-terfel.htm

The Tempest at the Royal Opera House
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/tempest.htm

Welcome

Welcome to Musical Criticism: the blog.

Here you'll find links to all our latest reviews, news stories, features and interviews covering a wide range of concerts and opera.

Please join us at www.musicalcriticism.com now to see what we're up to!