Sarah Connolly, Magdalena Kožená, & Mark Padmore Star in Oxford International Song Festival 2026

The Oxford International Song Festival announces its 2026 lineup. Magdalena Kožená opens the year by performing Schumann’s “Dichterliebe” with pianist Malcolm Martineau. Performance Date: January 10, 2026 Alexandra Flood and pianist Sholto Kynoch perform a program dedicated to Schubert’s 229th birthday. Performance Date: January 31, 2026 Felix Gygli presents Shakespeare settings by Korngold, Quilter, and Rautavaara, Jonathan Dove. Performance Date: {…}

Oct 8, 2025

Helen Charlston Headlines Brighton Early Music Festival 2025

(Photo credit: Matthew Johnson) The 24th edition of the Brighton Early Music Festival announces its schedule. This article only features vocal concerts. Mademoiselle Duval’s “Les Génies ou les Caractères de l’Amour” is performed by sopranos Harriet Cameron and Laura Coppinger, tenor Richard Jackson, baritone Allyn Wu, and bass Henry Saywell. They are joined by the Baroque Collective Singers along with {…}

Jun 29, 2025

Q & A: Mezzo-Soprano Helen Charlston On Her Career & Award-Winning Recordings

(Photo: Julien Gazeau) Mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston is rapidly making a name for herself in the world of classical music, especially for her expressive renditions of works from the baroque period. She already has a substantial discography, including the award-winning 2022 release, “Battle Cry,” and the fascinating disc of contemporary music, entitled “Isolation Songbook,” which was created in response to the {…}

Apr 14, 2025

Helen Charlston Stars in Music at Paxton’s 2025 Festival

Music at Paxton announces its 2025 festival lineup. This article only features classical vocal performances. Denise Stout leads the Northumbria Chamber Choir in a program of works by Byrd and Debussy, as well as Northumbrian folk songs, and more. Performance Date: July 19, 2025 Mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston pianist and Sholto Kynoch present “Notes of Old,” featuring music by Schubert, J.S. {…}

Apr 12, 2025

Gran Teatre del Liceu to Host 2025 ‘Concert for Peace’

The Gran Teatre del Liceu will host the 2025 “Concert for Peace,” in collaboration with the Victoria de los Ángeles Foundation. This initiative, which began in 2022 in response to the outbreak of war in Ukraine, now returns in favor of peace, solidarity, and understanding between peoples, reaffirming the musical world’s commitment to universal rights. Given the increase in armed {…}

Mar 17, 2025

JW3 Classical Music Series Announces 2025-26 Season

The Classical Music Series 2025-2026 at JW3 has been announced. This season there will be one vocal performance. Here is a look. Mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston will sing alongside the sensitive archlutenist Segio Buchell and viola da gamba and cello player Jonathan Manson. The youthful trio will play a concert of early music including a complete Händel Cantata and works by {…}

Feb 3, 2025

Mark Padmore, Elsa Dreisig, Mercedes Gancedo, & Hugo Brady Take the Stage in LIFE Victoria 2025

(Photo credits: Borggreve, Fowler, & Reason) The Lied Festival Victoria de los Ángeles (LIFE Victoria) has announced its 2025 lineup. This article only features vocal works. Soprano Elsa Dreisig and pianist Romain Louveau perform Schumann’s “Dichterliebe,” along with works by Ravel, Pesson, Ströhl, and Fauré. Performance Date: February 11, 2025 A double bill of Poulenc’s “La voix humaine” and “La {…}

Aug 12, 2024

Dame Sarah Connolly, Will Liverman, Roderick Williams, & Lucy Crowe Among Performers in Oxford International Song Festival 2024

(Photo credits: Crowley, Cadisch, & Simpson) The Oxford International Song Festival has announced its 2024 season lineup. Baritone Roderick Williams and pianist Natalie Burch open the Festival with Schubert’s “Schwanengesang.” Performance Date: October 11, 2024 Soprano Carolyn Sampson and pianist Joseph Middleton present a works by Robert and Clara Schumann. Performance Date: October 12, 2024 Dame Sarah Connolly and Joseph Middleton {…}

Apr 9, 2024

Mark Padmore, Gavin Bryars, Helen Charlston Star in Music at Paxton Festival 2024

(Photo credit: Marco Borggreve) The 2024 Music at Paxton festival has released its line up of events. This article features vocal works only. Mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston joins the Consone Quartet to present the works of Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn, and Fanny Mendelssohn. Performance Date: July 20, 2024 Composer Gavin Bryars joins artistic director Angus Smith in a “meet {…}

Oct 7, 2023

Véronique Gens, Helen Charlston, Cyrille Dubois Among Major Gramophone Classical Music Award 2023 Winners

Photo credit: Colin Miller Winners of the Gramophone Classical Music Awards 2023 have been announced. This article only features winners of vocal-related works. Soprano Dame Felicity Lott took home the Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring her performance career and discography of more than 100 recordings. French soprano Véronique Gens was awarded Artist of the Year and the won the Voice and Ensemble {…}

Mar 28, 2023

Opéra Royal de Versailles 2022-23 Review: Dido and Aeneas

Photo: Pablo Lorente Opéra Royal de Versailles’ “Dido and Aeneas” has, on paper, great musicians, a good stage director, good dancers, and even William Christie. But that was not enough to prevent leaving the theater frustrated. The principal point of frustration came from how poorly conceived the production itself was. This failure is exclusive to good and well-intentioned artists—those from {…}