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Articles by Michael Stuart

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About Michael Stuart

After university, Michael spent twelve years working for MELODY MAKER before going freelance. He claims to keep doing it because it is all he knows. More Posts

BRIAN WILSON/ R.I.P.

Even though he was diagnosed with dementia a couple of years ago, I was still shocked and sorrowed to learn in the media this week of the death of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys’ original leader and chief creative force, at the age of 82. His younger brothers Dennis (drowned 1983) and Carl [...]

June 13, 2025 // 0 Comments

Two American songbook concerts (BBC 4)

Last night I watched a recording of an Ethel Merman concert that she gave years ago and another on BBC 4 of  Kiri Te Kanawa, Jeremy Irons and Warren Mitchell singing songs from My Fair Lady. I guess this original Albert Hall concert would have taken place some thirty years ago. The problem is [...]

May 26, 2025 // 0 Comments

The Van Morrison Alumni Band (Cadogan Hall Friday 29.11.2024)

Last Friday evening – after contacting a London-based couple we’ve known for a while to enquire whether they’d noticed this advertised concert and were informed they’d already bought tickets for it – the Memsahib and I attended an evening of Van Morrison’s music as performed by THE VAN [...]

December 1, 2024 // 0 Comments

Tristan and Isolde/Glyndebourne

Yesterday I returned to Glyndebourne for the second time in a week for their production of Richard Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde.  They are arguably the most famous lovers in opera, that is, if we regard Romeo and Juliet as less the opera of Gounod and more the theatre of William Shakespeare. So [...]

August 3, 2024 // 0 Comments

Carmen/ Glyndebourne

In the 10 years since I have been going regularly to Glyndebourne, first as an associate member and now a full one, the place, experience and productions have all changed significantly. The most significant change is the relaxation of the dress code: one visitor for Carmen last Wednesday was [...]

June 14, 2024 // 0 Comments

Sir Neville Marriner (1924-2017)

This April 15th would have been the centenary of the birth of conductor Sir Neville Marriner, the founder of the Academy of St Martin-in-the Fields, an eminent conductor. The BBC celebrated this centenary with a series of his recordings and I watched and listened to Marriner conduct his Academy [...]

April 17, 2024 // 0 Comments

Rolling Stones Tribute Band at the Palladium

I recently saw a Rolling Stones tribute band at the London Palladium. This consisted of a backing group, 3 female vocalists and the radio music presenter Cerys Williams. Cerys Williams explained the circumstances behind each song, most of which were composed by Mick Jagger and Keith Richard, the [...]

February 26, 2024 // 0 Comments

Feeling “Comfortably Numb” …

Anyone with even a passing acquaintance with – let alone active interest in – the history of rock and popular music will be aware of the English group Pink Floyd, which was essentially active between 1965 and 1994 although from time to time – in various guises – some of its [...]

January 14, 2024 // 0 Comments

New Year’s day Concert/ Vienna

Like many people I prefer New Year’s Day to the overhyped New Year’s Eve. Fortunately I no longer celebrate the latter in an over-priced restaurant  or the gala rip off of a hotel. My highlight is the traditional New Year’s day concert in Vienna, broadcast simultaneously on Radio 3 and [...]

January 2, 2024 // 0 Comments

Glyndebourne

This month I was elevated in status from associate to full membership of Glyndebourne. Initially my reaction was ‘What ‘s the big deal? ‘ – apart from an increased sub? However with the letter they sent me a Short History of History of Glyndebourne by Michael Kennedy. Reading the story [...]

September 29, 2023 // 0 Comments

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