(Photo: Genevieve Girling) Written in 1707 while living in Italy, Händel’s first oratorio, “Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno,” was a work that he would return to again and again over his career. Not only did he mine it for arias he could use in his operas, but he also created two further versions of the piece. In 1737, {…}
(Photo: Alciro Theodoro Da Silva) Productions of Handel’s 1707 oratorio “Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno” in its first version (HWV 46a) are by no means rare. A conversational piece with plenty of contrasting moods and emotional tension but little in the way of physical action, it is often presented as a concert performance, although successful staged productions are {…}
Opera North has announced its 2024-25 season. The season opens with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” with Claire Lees, Soraya Mafi, Egor Zhuravskii, Trystan Llŷr Griffiths, Anna Dennis, Msimelelo Mbali, Justin Hopkins, Emyr Wyn Jones, Pasquale Orchard, Colin Judson, and Andri Björn Róbertsson. Christoph Koncz, Patrick Lange, and Emilia Hoving share the podium and James Brining directs. Performance Dates: Sept. 27, {…}
(Photo: Alciro Theodoro da Silva) Having survived the Reformation, allied bombing during World War Two and even an arson attack in 2005, Göttingen’s St. Johannis’ Church, which can trace its roots back to at least 1272, stands proudly overlooking the streets of the city’s historical centre. The current church, which dates back to the 14th century, has been added to {…}
Opera North has announced its 2023-24 season, which will be split into autumn and spring. Henry Waddington, Helen Évora, Isabelle Peters, Egor Zhuravskii, Richard Burkhard, and Tichina Vaughn lead Verdi’s “Falstaff.” Garry Walker and Martin Pickard conduct the production by Jo Davies. Performance Dates: Sept. 28-Nov. 18, 2023 Andri Björn Róbertsson, Anna Dennis, James Laing, Patrick Terry, Callum Thorpe, Xavier Hetherington, and {…}
The Royal Philharmonic Society Awards has announced this year’s winners, celebrating the impact of classical music in the UK. Held at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, winners of the evening included 27-year old organist and choral director Anna Lapwood, who received the Gamechanger Award for her artistry and advocacy for classical music; South African cellist Abel Selacoe, who received the Instrumentalist {…}
(Credit: James Hole) The Royal Philharmonic Society Awards has announced its 2023 shortlists. For the purposes of this article, our focus will only be on vocal or opera-related topics and nominations. Among those shortlisted for the Ensemble award, supported by Wise Music Group, are BBC Singers, Ensemble 360, and Manchester Collective. The English National Opera’s Martyn Brabbins was among those {…}
Britten Pears Arts has announced its Autumn 2022 season that includes “The Blue Woman,” a new opera by Laura Bowler and Laura Lomas, a new production of “The Rape of Lucretia,” and Britten song cycles performed by opera stars. Here’s the lineup. Composer Laura Bowler and librettist Laura Lomas’ new opera, “The Blue Woman,” explores the aftermath of sexual violence, {…}
The English Concert has announced its spring and summer 2022 slate. For the purposes of this article, our focus will be solely on vocal performances. First up will Bach’s “St. John Passion” directed by Peter Whelan. The work will feature Rachel Redmond, Helen Charlston, Mauro Peter, Konstantin Wolff, and Ashley Riches. Performance Dates: April 1, 2022 (Wigmore Hall) The company {…}
VOCES8 Foundation has announced two “LIVE From London” online concerts slated for Eastertide and the release of a world premiere album, “Requiem Novum.” First up is the Mar. 25, 2022 release of “Requiem Novum,” composed by Mårten Jansson and performed by soprano Anna Dennis, VOCES8 Foundation Choir, and the Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of Barnaby Smith. A single, “Sanctus,” {…}
(Photo: Alciro Theodore da Silva) The relationship of art to society is a complex and ever-changing one. At times it is used to support the dominant values of the elite as was the case with the 17th and 18th century baroque, whilst during other periods, it sets itself up in opposition to society, underpinned by varying degrees of revolutionary intent. {…}