Opera + Classical Music Reviews

Armida Quartet review – Mendelssohn, Mozart and Robert Schumann at the Wigmore Hall

by Sam Smith

A delightful Sunday morning concert in the most intimate of settings


Falstaff review – horny in more ways than one

by Melanie Eskenazi
Opera North kicks off its 2023-24 season and proves that Verdi really does mean ‘green’
Falstaff review – horny in more ways than one

Picture a day like this review – Benjamin’s little operatic gem

by Keith McDonnell
The Royal Opera presents the UK premiere of George Benjamin’s latest opera which exerts a hypnotic spell
Picture a day like this review – Benjamin’s little operatic gem

Peter Grimes review – a thrilling start to English National Opera’s new season

by Keith McDonnell
David Alden’s disturbing vision of Peter Grimes is given a powerful performance by the ENO on top form
Peter Grimes review – a thrilling start to English National Opera’s new season

Das Rheingold review – take two: once more in close up

by Melanie Eskenazi
The Royal Opera gives audiences worldwide a chance to experience a first-rate performance
Das Rheingold review – take two: once more in close up

La forza del destino review – Loy’s dramatic staging returns to The Royal Opera

by Keith McDonnell
Verdi’s epic tale of revenge provides the perfect backdrop for some thrilling singing at Covent Garden
La forza del destino review – Loy’s dramatic staging returns to The Royal Opera

London Symphony Orchestra review – Barbara Hannigan leads a bold season opener

by Keith McDonnell
The LSO is on top form as they explore a mix of challenging and familiar works to open their 2023/24 season at the Barbican
London Symphony Orchestra review – Barbara Hannigan leads a bold season opener

Preview: Opera in the regions – Autumn 2023

by Melanie Eskenazi
Seasons come and go, but good music continues all around Britain
Preview: Opera in the regions – Autumn 2023

At the Venice Fair review – Salieri’s commedia per musica receives its UK premiere ...

by Sam Smith
One of the most popular operas of the 1770s comes to St John’s, Smith Square
At the Venice Fair review – Salieri’s commedia per musica receives its UK premiere ...

Das Rheingold review – The Royal Opera embarks on a new Ring Cycle

by Keith McDonnell
Maverick Australian director Barrie Kosky directs the first instalment of Wagner’s epic music drama at Covent Garden as an ecological catastrophe in the making
Das Rheingold review – The Royal Opera embarks on a new Ring Cycle

Prom 71 review – quality and exuberance at The Last Night of the Proms

by Sam Smith
Excellent programming and two star soloists made for a memorable swan song to the season
Prom 71 review – quality and exuberance at The Last Night of the Proms

Prom 69 review – Crisp performances of Mozart by Raphaël Pichon and Pygmalion

by Barry Creasy
The French early music ensemble stitches together Mozart’s Requiem with rarely performed short works by the same composer into a strangely shaped coat of many colours
Prom 69 review – Crisp performances of Mozart by Raphaël Pichon and Pygmalion

Proms 66 & 67 review – Rufus Wainwright’s Want Symphonic

by Barry Creasy
The Canadian-American revives his 20 year old sequential pair of Want albums in an opulent, orchestrally augmented double concert that reveals both light and shade
Proms 66 & 67 review – Rufus Wainwright’s Want Symphonic

Prom 64 review – Les Troyens in concert at the Royal Albert Hall

by Sam Smith
A meticulous approach and thrilling results from the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and Monteverdi Choir
Prom 64 review – Les Troyens in concert at the Royal Albert Hall

Prom 58 review – Jon Hopkins’ group sonic meditation

by Michael Hubbard
Jules Buckley helms the BBC Singers, Symphony Chorus and Symphony Orchestra with a new commission sitting alongside reinterpretations from across the electronica composer’s career
Prom 58 review – Jon Hopkins’ group sonic meditation

Prom 54 review – an enjoyable afternoon of organ music from Isabelle Demers

by Barry Creasy
The Canadian organist makes her BBC Proms debut in a programme of Bach, Coleridge-Taylor, Laurin, Prokofiev, Still and Wagner
Prom 54 review – an enjoyable afternoon of organ music from Isabelle Demers

Prom 52 review – the Boston Symphony Orchestra makes a welcome return to the Royal Al...

by Keith McDonnell
One of the world’s finest orchestras delivers impeccable Strauss under its inspired music director Andris Nelsons, but Prokofiev’s 5th Symphony lacks the necessary edge and bite
Prom 52 review – the Boston Symphony Orchestra makes a welcome return to the Royal Al...

Prom 50 review – a performance of Handel’s Samson to draw the listener in

by Sam Smith
The Academy of Ancient Music and Philharmonia Chorus make the Albert Hall feel like the most intimate of spaces
Prom 50 review – a performance of Handel’s Samson to draw the listener in

Prom 49 review – Robert Schumann’s Das Paradies und die Peri enjoys its first compl...

by Sam Smith
The London Symphony Orchestra and Simon Rattle present an oratorio that was, in its day, both popular and unusual
Prom 49 review – Robert Schumann’s Das Paradies und die Peri enjoys its first compl...

Prom 43 review – Kurtág’s Endgame enjoys its UK premiere at the Royal Albert Hall

by Sam Smith
The Hungarian composer’s operatic version of Beckett’s Fin de partie
Prom 43 review – Kurtág’s Endgame enjoys its UK premiere at the Royal Albert Hall

Prom 37 review – renowned pianist András Schiff beguiles and dazzles in Schumann

by Keith McDonnell
The Budapest Festival Orchestra returned to the Proms under its enigmatic music director Iván Fischer to deliver an outstanding evening of music making in a selection of judiciously chosen 19th century work
Prom 37 review – renowned pianist András Schiff beguiles and dazzles in Schumann