Opera

Yesterday I did something I rarely if ever do, namely to cancel my trip to Glyndebourne to see The Magic Flute. The driver who takes me – normally most reliable – called at midday to report he was unwell. This meant I had to find alternative transport. Other factors in my decision were [...]

Since the raison d’etre of the trip was opera I have been given my very own post on it. It’s unique among international opera for being in an open arena, not an Opera House. This does create problems as the facilities are poor, especially the loos for which you had to queue and were smelly. The [...]

Critics of live performances in the arts rarely give you the audience reaction. Sportswriters more commonly include the crowd – in football, the reaction to a substitution, to tactics or even an individual performance. This does not happen with arts reviewers even though I would suggest that [...]

Mark my words: in Hera Hyasang Park a star is born. The South Korean soprano played Rosina in The Barber of Seville at Glyndebourne last night. Her voice was the model of clarity and tone; she could act; she looked winsome and delicate. It was not just her suitor Count Almaviva and the ageing Dr [...]

Yesterday and for the next three weeks we are studying the life and works of Richard Wagner in our opera class. As our tutor correctly opined no one divides people more than Wagner. The class was asked to give its views, some admired his operatic prowess, others were intimidated by it. I said I was [...]