An interview with Simon Keenlyside about The Magic Flute

An interview with Britain's leading baritone, Simon Keenlyside, about forthcoming appearances in The Magic Flute, Don Carlo, Il barbiere di Siviglia and Wozzeck, plus his new disc of operetta arias.

Quite a number of tickets remain for the Covent Garden Flute performances, so now's your chance to witness Keenlyside at work in one of his greatest roles, Papageno.

Read the full story here:

http://www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/keenlyside-0108.shtml

BBC SO axes Composer Weekends in favour of Composer Days

In a surprise move, the BBCSO has announced that it will no longer continue its annual January Composer Weekends beyond 2008.

Instead, there will be Composer Days scattered between January and March, next year focusing on Stockhausen, Murail and Xenakis.

More here: http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/bbcso-composer-0108.shtml

Any reactions to this decision?

Aimard's The Art of Fugue on Deutsche Grammophon

An exciting new release this week of Pierre-Laurent Aimard's recording of Bach's The Art of Fugue on Deutsche Grammphon.

Review:

'You have to wonder how happy the executives were at Deutsche Grammophon when their new star-signing, pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, plumped for Bach's elusive Art of Fugue for the first recording of his exclusive contract with the label. One can imagine from a pianist renowned for his intelligence, as well as formidable technique, this was unlikely to have been a choice of repertoire that was taken lightly.'

Read the full review here: http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/cd-aimard-bach-0108.shtml

Anna Netrebko withdraws from another performance of Traviata at the ROH; Peter Grimes opens at Opera North; Julia Fischer on Pentatone

Sadly, the Royal Opera House has announced the indisposition of Anna Netrebko for the third performance of La traviata at 3pm tomorrow. I feel genuinely sorry for all those who have missed her interpretation of the role, which, although unorthodox in many respects, has just the visceral quality that is needed for the part:

http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/cast-change-netrebko-0108.shtml

Phyllida Lloyd's award-winning production of Peter Grimes has returned to Opera North, currently at the Grand Theatre in Leeds. In February it will be seen in London at Sadler's Wells, where I saw it last year with great pleasure:

http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/on-grimes-0108.shtml

Finally, a highly-recommended new Mozart disc from Julia Fischer, Yakov Kreizberg and Gordan Nikolitch:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/cd-fischer-mozart-0108.shtml

Soprano Judith Howarth chats about playing Madam Butterfly at ENO

An interview with lovely Judith Howarth about Cio-Cio-San in the Anthony Minghella production:

http://www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/howarth-0108.shtml

Apparently it's selling fast, so go and book your tickets pronto!

Later this week, look out for an interview with Simon Keenlyside.

ROH review: La traviata at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden with Anna Netrebko, Dmitri Hvorostovsky and Jonas Kaufmann.

A review of the first night, featuring Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann (left) and Dmitri Hvorostovsky conducted by Maurizio Benini at Covent Garden, can be read here:

http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/roh-traviata-0108.shtml

Anna Netrebko in I Puritani; Roberto Alagna in Aida - DVDs

I Puritani from the Met:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/dvd-netrebko-puritani-0108.shtml

Aida from La Scala:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/dvd-alagna-aida-0108.shtml