Why I Love… Tosca

by Sam Smith

Continuing the series on our writers’ operatic passions, Sam Smith reveals his admiration for one of Puccini’s most loved works

Preview: Garsington Opera 2021 – and a concert from Wormsley to enjoy now

by Melanie Eskenazi

There is opera to look forward to and gems to savour now. Melanie Eskenazi explains. One of the saddest cancellations of 2020 was the season...

Preview: York Early Music Festival 2020 Online

by Melanie Eskenazi

Despite the partial lifting of lockdown, classical venues remain closed. But, as Melanie Eskenazi has found, there is still much musical enjoyment to be had...

Preview: BBC Proms 2020

by Barry Creasy

The BBC Proms this year will be like no other. Barry Creasy gives us a preview

Why I Love… Götterdämmerung

by Benjamin Poore

Our look at Wagner’s Ring Cycle concludes with Benjamin Poore’s take on this epic work

Connecting Stars: Supporting Isolated People and Struggling Artists

by Sam Smith

Sam Smith discovers an innovative project that helps our most vulnerable during the pandemic

Why I Love… Siegfried

by Simon Thomas

Continuing in our series, Simon Thomas guides us through part three of Wagner’s Ring Cycle

Why I Love… Die Walküre

by Sam Smith

Sam Smith explains why Die Walküre is his favourite opera in the tetralogy of the Ring Cycle

Stream classical music and opera at home: this month’s picks

by Barry Creasy

A timely update on classical music offerings from the major London venues

Why I Love… Das Rheingold

by Keith McDonnell

Our ‘Why I Love’ series now tackles Wagner’s Ring Cycle. First up – Keith McDonnell’s thoughts on Das Rheingold

Why I Love… Salieri

by Sam Smith

Continuing the series on our writers’ musical passions, Sam Smith explains his admiration for a composer who is still too often maligned Although it is...

Q&A: London Handel Festival’s Samir Savant

by Barry Creasy

Samir Savant, Director of The London Handel Festival, discusses lockdown and the future of the Festival

Stephen Hough: Composing in lockdown

by Benjamin Poore

Benjamin Poore talks to composer Stephen Hough about coping with lockdown and his forthcoming performance at Wigmore Hall Lockdown is Stephen Hough’s first real break...

The show must go on: Mark Simpson on composing in isolation

by Benjamin Poore

Lockdown hasn’t got everyone down. Benjamin Poore talks to composer and clarinettist Mark Simpson

Spotlight: Stile Antico tackle Spem in Alium in lockdown

by Barry Creasy

Relying on group meetings, choral music performance is in turmoil. These early music specialists have a technological solution

Why I Love… Carlo Bergonzi

by Simon Thomas

Our series moves to performers, as Simon Thomas explains his love for a great tenor

Garsington in lockdown: long-distance fixes of the operatic kind

by Melanie Eskenazi

Garsington may be down, but they’re not out, as the festival’s streaming service Garsington Opera At Home gears up

Why I Love… The Monteverdi Vespers

by Barry Creasy

Barry Creasy tells us what makes the Vespers so special

Why I Love… La traviata

by Sam Smith

Continuing the series on our writers’ operatic passions, Sam Smith explains what makes a production of Verdi’s 1853 classic work

Why I Love… Winterreise

by Melanie Eskenazi

Melanie Eskenazi guides us to Schubert’s definitive Lockdown Lieder in the latest of our series on private music passions