Richard Wagner

In Leipzig on 22 May 1813 was born Richard Wagner, one of the giants of opera, both as librettist and composer. His creative power was prodigious, and his anticipation of harmonic development, as proved by Tristan, astonishing. He died of a heart attack in Venice on 13 February 1883, aged sixty-nine.

 

A selection of articles about Richard Wagner

Classical music news. March 2024 Newsletter - Watch and listen to our March 2024 one hour video newsletter - Classical Music and Politics

Spotlight. A Romantic Piano Master - Esdras Mugatik listens to Shura Cherkassky. '... a magical capacity to differentiate levels of sound ...'

Classical music news. New Year's Eve from Berlin - The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's 2023 New Year's Eve concert will be broadcast live to around three-hundred-and-fifty cinemas across Europe

Ensemble. Spellbinding Musical Effect - Lucas Ball is impressed by Brahms and Wagner in Worcester Cathedral

Ensemble. A Wake-up Call - Ron Bierman listens to orchestral music by Carlos Simon and by Wagner arranged by Lorin Maazel

A Treasure Trove - Roderic Dunnett explores the substantial catalogue of Regent Records

Ensemble. Superb and Imaginative Playing - Roderic Dunnett marks Thomas Trotter's forty years as Birmingham City Organist by reviewing a special anniversary recital and investigating the artist's large output on the Regent Records label

Spotlight. Gorgeously Resplendent Playing - Gerald Fenech finds Andris Nelsons' recordings of Bruckner's symphonies simply outstanding. '... all the mystery and grandeur of these works are exposed in translucent music making.'

Spotlight. Plain Strange - Patrick Maxwell watches and listens to the new Deutsche Grammophon Blu-Ray disc of Wagner's 'Götterdämmerung' from Bayreuth. 'The singing and the playing are largely excellent, but this is not the greatest production available ...'

CD Spotlight. An Exceptional Recording - Gerald Fenech finds William Vann's new recording of music by Parry revelatory. '... highly dramatic performances seething with passionate endeavour and glorious grandeur.'

CD Spotlight. Truly Unique - Patrick Maxwell pays homage to a 1955 Parsifal from the Bayreuth Festival. 'All these impressive voices, heard here in their prime, combined with Knappertsbusch's wonderful orchestra, make a sound which is truly intimate and doubly intense.'

Ensemble. A Unique Sense of Bravado and Fun - Roderic Dunnett reviews Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen' at Longborough Festival Opera

Classical music news - The Innocent Fields - Recent items of interest, including the Presteigne Festival, Jonathan McPhee adapting Wagner, Nick Hely-Hutchinson's Perfect Pitch podcast, the Stabat Mater music calendar and a study of unusual vocal techniques

CD Spotlight. Overwhelming Performances - Previously unreleased recordings by Jessye Norman, heard by Gerald Fenech. 'Unmissable for all opera buffs.'

CD Spotlight. Insightful and Compelling - Geoff Pearce is impressed by this Chandos recording of Shostakovich's Symphonies Nos 12 and 15. 'The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra is totally committed to these works and the playing, both solo and in ensemble work, is of the highest order.'

Profile. Big Roles - Ron Bierman talks to American soprano Michelle Bradley

Ensemble. Almost as Verdi would have Wanted - Giuseppe Pennisi was in the audience for 'Aida'

Towards the Unknown Region - The late George Colerick discusses Ralph Vaughan Williams as writer on music, particularly when he turns his thoughts towards Beethoven's Choral Symphony

CD Spotlight. A Phenomenal Reaction - Gerald Fenech admires Solti's Decca Ring Project. 'John Culshaw died on 27 April 1980 ... but his spirit lives on in this perfect marriage of art and technology.'

CD Spotlight. Bruckner the Trumpet - Gerald Fenech listens to Bruckner's Symphony No 3, transposed for organ. '... Hansjörg Albrecht's renditions of these spectacular transcriptions by Erwin Horn are absolutely flawless.'

CD Spotlight. A Spirit of Newfound Confidence - Gerald Fenech listens to the last instalment of Andris Nelsons' Bruckner cycle for Deutsche Gramophon. 'Nelsons goes straight to the heart of this quite divinely inspired music with confidence and conviction ...'

CD Spotlight. Absolutely Superlative - Gerald Fenech listens to Wagner's 'Götterdämmerung' from 'The Ring on the Rhine'. 'The performance eschews grandeur from beginning to end, and both singers and orchestra respond magnificently.'

CD Spotlight. Wagner in Bayreuth Today - Giuseppe Pennisi explores a box set from Opus Arte. '... an excellent set of CDs to hear where Bayreuth is up to today.'

Ensemble. Down with the Piano Lid - Mike Wheeler listens to Ivan Hovorun

Ensemble. Chaos Instead of Music? - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Wagner and Shostakovich in a triumphant concert by Alejo Pérez and the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma Orchestra

Ensemble. A Ukrainian Star in Rome - Oksana Lyniv makes her Rome debut, experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Quartet of Jubilation - Vocal music by Wagner and Richard Strauss, streamed from Germany and enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Parsifal's Jail - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on Richard Wagner's 'Parsifal', streamed from Vienna State Opera

Ensemble. A Delightful Addition to Christmas - Bryn Terfel in Wales, the latest Met Stars live in concert, reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Soft Romanticism - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Schubert, Wagner and Mozart from Daniele Gatti and the Mozart Orchestra at the Ravello Festival

Ensemble. Bring Back the Blue and the Light - Maria Nockin was impressed by Jonas Kaufmann's recital with Helmut Deutsch in New York Metropolitan Opera's new 'Met Stars Live in Concert' series

CD Spotlight. An Impressive Undertaking - Simon Rattle conducts Wagner's 'Die Walküre', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi. 'The singing and the orchestra raise this performance above the ordinary.'

CD Spotlight. Supremely Pianistic - Gerald Fenech finds pure joy in Etsuko Hirose's recent Moszkowski piano works disc. 'Truly hair-raising stuff, wonderfully annotated and recorded.'

A Double Career - Giuseppe Pennisi describes his life as an economist in the world of music

Ensemble. Opium and Eros - Richard Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' in Bologna pleases Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Wagner's Revenge - Giuseppe Pennisi is puzzled by a political and contemporary reading of 'Parsifal'

Ensemble. Special Moments - Adam J Sacks provides a Hong Kong snapshot on the classical music world

Ensemble. Magisterial Performance - Nina Stemme returns to Australia to sing Wagner, heard by David Mitchell

Ensemble. Germanic Gravitas? - Adam J Sacks marks the opening of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's new season

Simultaneous Beethoven - Endre Anaru listens to all the Beethoven symphonies simultaneously

CD Spotlight. Triumphant Splendour - Gerald Fenech commends the reissue of Roger Norrington's recording of Elgar's Symphony No 1 with the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. '... Norrington conveys the sweep of the score spontaneously in one breath and takes his players on a headlong ride to the finish which is simply spinetingling.'

Ensemble. Tradition and Passion - Giuseppe Pennisi reviews a revival of Wagner's 'Die Walküre' in Naples

A Perfect Fool - George Colerick discusses Gustav Holst and his Richard Wagner parody

Ensemble. Expressive Progression - Mike Wheeler enjoys a concert by Stephen Hough, Mark Elder and the Hallé Orchestra

Ensemble. The Tragedy of Not Dying - A new Florence production of Wagner's 'The Flying Dutchman' impresses Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. The Touch of Gatti - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Wagner and Mahler from the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome

Profile. Spanish Rhythms - George Colerick describes how Emmanuel Chabrier was in sympathy with the new spirit of his age, opening up new directions which later composers would follow

Ensemble. Musically Outstanding - Wagner's 'Das Rheingold' in dress rehearsal at Covent Garden impresses Alice McVeigh

Ensemble. Intrigue, Amusement and Confusion - Keith Bramich is impressed by Covent Garden's new production of Wagner's 'Lohengrin'

Ensemble. Choral Interventions - Wagner's 'Der fliegende Holländer' at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Glorious New Directions - Roderic Dunnett looks ahead to 2018 and celebrates more of the best English provincial opera from 2017, at Garsington, Longborough and Winslow Hall

CD Spotlight. Explosive Classics - A Chandos orchestral compilation, enjoyed by Gerald Fenech. '... the programme is as explosive as one can hope for.'

Ensemble. Loony Plot - Mike Wheeler listens to Sinfonia Viva's performances of Wagner, Milhaud, Martinu and Copland

Refreshingly Unusual - David Davies plays the organ of Derby Cathedral, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Emotional Extremes - Wagner, Duparc, Cecilia McDowall and Poulenc from Rachel Nicholls and Paul Plummer, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. A Winning Disc - Romantic music for piano four hands impressed the late Howard Smith. '... Buccheri and Boldrey convey the demanding score with spellbinding assurance.'

Ensemble. Tannhäuser in the Dark - Giuseppe Pennisi visits Venice, one of Richard Wagner's favourite cities

Ensemble. Abstract and Symbolic - 'Tristan und Isolde' at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma enthralls Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Thought Provoking - Maria Nockin visits the cinema for Mariusz Trelinski's updated staging of Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera

Ensemble. A Very Rich Menu - Giuseppe Pennisi attends two first performances at the Pergolesi Spontini Festival in Jesi

Tonal Clarity - An organ recital by Daniel Gottfried impresses Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Highly Satisfying - Roderic Dunnett visits Longborough for Wagner's 'Tannhäuser'

Ensemble. Power and Eloquence - Mike Wheeler was at the culmination of Wagner's 'Ring' in Nottingham

Ensemble. Shades of Real Gentleness - Mike Wheeler listens to Lars Cleveman as Siegfried in Nottingham

Ensemble. Handled with Brilliance - Opera North's 'Die Walküre' impresses Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Highly Effective - 'Das Rheingold' at Opera North, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ask Alice - Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh on Wagner's 'Tannhäuser' at Covent Garden

DVD Spotlight. Mantle of Wagner - 'Feuersnot' by Richard Strauss, impresses Geoff Pearce. '... the orchestra was sumptuous.'

Ensemble. A Successful Challenge - Wagner's 'Götterdämmerung' ends the Palermo 'Ring' cycle, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Rebel with a Cause - Teatro Massimo di Palermo's 'Siegfried', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Dramatic Values - Richard Wagner's 'Tannhäuser', live in HD from New York, reviewed by Maria Nockin

Musical Prowess - Robert Anderson's 'Opera Nights and Nightmares', read by Gerald Fenech

CD Spotlight. Organ transcriptions - Vocal music by Wagner and Elgar, heard by Geoff Pearce. 'Sarah Rose Taylor's voice is warm and creamy.'

Thus Spoke Nietzsche - Daniel Sampaio marks some interesting anniversaries

Ensemble. Amersterdam: Lohengrin Lite - James Sohre reports on Pierre Audi's production for Netherlands Opera

Ensemble. A Modern, Technically-endowed Triumph - 'Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg' in HD from New York on 17 December impresses Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Versatility and Intelligence - Balázs Kovalik's new production of 'Die Frau Ohne Schatten' at Opera Leipzig fascinates Roderic Dunnett

An Affectionate Eye - George Bernard Shaw as London Music Critic, by George Colerick

Ensemble. Bringing Together - Roderic Dunnett visits James MacMillan's Cumnock Tryst

Ensemble. Genuine Elation - Brahms, Wagner and Sibelius from Nottingham, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. A Fine Idea - Claudio Abbado at the Lucerne Festival, heard by Stephen Francis Vasta. '... natural, extroverted musicality ...'

Ensemble. Nature and Sentiment - Wagner's 'Ring' at the Tyroler Festspiele Erl impresses Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Smiles All Round - Fawzi Haimor conducts Sinfonia Viva and impresses Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Whipped Cream - Buxton Festival's 2014 Opera Gala, attended by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Mastery of Adaptation - Opera transcriptions for piano, heard by Howard Smith. '... illuminating performances ...'

Ensemble. Metaphysical Realm - Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' impresses Giuseppe Pennisi

DVD Spotlight. Sweeping Drama - Wagner's Götterdämmerung from La Scala Milan impresses Gerald Fenech. 'The singing is at a constantly high level throughout ...'

Ask Alice - On Wagner string parts and Fred Sherry's Bach duets, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Ensemble. Bold and Daring - A new production of Wagner's 'Parsifal', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Better Fit - Wagner and Britten in the Umbrian Hills, reported by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Highest Accolades - Gerald Fenech enjoys his visit to Festival Maribor in Slovenia

Ensemble. Thanksgiving and Transcendence - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to orchestral and chamber concerts at the Salzburg Summer Festival

Ensemble. Very Scrupulous - An unusual Salzburg 'Ring', appreciated by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. New Directions - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on Mozart, Verdi and Wagner operas from Salzburg's summer festival

Ensemble. Political Allegory - Wagner's 'Götterdämmerung' at La Scala Milan, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Political Tragedy - Giuseppe Pennisi attended a performance of Wagner's 'Rienzi' in Rome

Ensemble. Vibrant and Wild - Wagner's 'Flying Dutchman' enthralls Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Mature or Immature? - Roderic Dunnett asks some questions about 'Die Feen', a Wagner rarity performed recently by Chelsea Opera Group

Ensemble. Fatal Obsession - Wagner's 'Flying Dutchman' at Los Angeles Opera, experienced by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Seductive Intensity - Richard Wagner's 'Parsifal' in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera impresses Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Anything Goes - A shocking 'Die Walküre', experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Much Awaited - Bayreuth's 'Das Rheingold' previewed in Rome, as experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Wholly Inspiring - A recital by Elaine Huckle, heard by Howard Smith. '... her tonal resources are robust and the delivery pleasingly straightforward.'

Ensemble. A Key Flaw - If 'Das Rheingold' becomes a comedy, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Forbidden Questions - A controversial 'Lohengrin' at La Scala, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Economies of Scale - Excerpts from 'The Ring' down under, heard by Howard Smith. '... sonic excellence.'

Ensemble. Two Worlds - Malcolm Miller looks forward to the Wagner bicentenary and back to a semi-staged performance of Jonathan Harvey's 'Wagner Dream'

CD Spotlight. Cerebral Performances - Liszt-Wagner piano paraphrases, heard by Howard Smith. 'Fisch performs these transcriptions with striking clarity and communicative sensitivity.'

CD Spotlight. Beauty and Power - Australian soprano Nance Grant, heard by Howard Smith. '... an exceptional voice seldom heard beyond local shores.'

Ensemble. A Relaxed Evening - Bill Newman attends a 'family sing-song' event in London

Ensemble. Angels and Demons - Giuseppe Pennisi visits Sagra Musicale Umbra 2012

Ensemble. Truly Memorable - Opera New Jersey's midsummer concert, reviewed by Gregory Moomjy

Ensemble. Passion and Religion - Giuseppe Pennisi visits the 2012 Tyrol Festival for new productions of 'Lohengrin' and 'Tosca'

Ensemble. A Major Treat - Maria Nockin listens to soprano Amber Wagner

Ensemble. Superb Control - Wagner, Bruch and Elgar in Nottingham, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Nuanced Tone - Wagner's Götterdämmerung in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera, seen and heard in Arizona by Maria Nockin

Ask Alice - A visit to Covent Garden for 'Die Meistersinger', with Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

Ensemble. Wagnerian Glory - 'Siegfried' from New York in HD, appreciated by Maria Nockin

Great Things to Come - Malcolm Troup listens to a recital by the all-conquering but still largely unsung pianist Gloria Campaner

CD Spotlight. A No-nonsense Approach - Orchestral music by Richard Strauss, heard by Robert Anderson. '... not quite the whole story.'

DVD Spotlight. A Needless Diversion - 'Die Entführung aus dem Serail', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The applause of the Amsterdam audience is notably muted.'

DVD Spotlight. A Disparate Experiment - 'Aria - Special Edition', reviewed by Howard Smith. 'You never know what you're gonna get.'

Great Energy - Timothy Byram-Wigfield plays the organ at Derby Cathedral and impresses Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Wagner in the Alps - Giuseppe Pennisi reports from the 2011 Tiroler Festspiele

CD Spotlight. Keyboard Diablerie - Beethoven Sonatas and Symphonies, heard by Robert Anderson. '... stunning performance ...'

Ensemble. A Conductor's Opera - A new production of Puccini's 'La bohème' at Rome's Teatro dell'Opera, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. An Important Milestone - Robert Hugill was at Grange Park Opera's 'Tristan and Isolde'

Ensemble. A Complete Delight - Wagner's 'Die Walküre' at New York Metropolitan Opera, enjoyed in HD from Arizona by Maria Nockin

Profile. Humanizing Emotions - American conductor James Conlon talks to Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Intense Confrontation - Verdi's 'Ernani' - more revolutionary than patriotic, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Ambiguous Alchemy - Choral music by Jonathan Harvey, explored by Jennifer Paull. '... truly spellbinding ...'

Ensemble. Historical Fantasy - Rimsky-Korsakov's 'The Tsar's Bride', reviewed by Robert Hugill

CD Spotlight. Positively Spellbinding - Music for clarinet, piano and cello, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... a fine recording ...'

Ensemble. To Suit the Voice - Gregory Moomjy takes a sneak peek at the divas and divos of tomorrow, as heard at New York Metropolitan Opera's National Council auditions

Ensemble. Eros versus Thanatos - 'Ariadne auf Naxos' in Paris, experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

CD Spotlight. Murder Accomplished - Rutland Boughton's 'The Queen of Cornwall' impresses Robert Anderson. '... a brave attempt ...'

Ensemble. Beautifully Wrought - Wagner's 'Tannhäuser' at Covent Garden, by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. A New and Better World? - Giuseppe Pennisi was at La Scala Milan for Wagner's 'Die Walküre'

Ensemble. Consummate Virtuosity - Bryn Terfel, Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Hindemith and Wagner, appreciated by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A Difficult Cocktail - Rossini's 'Moïse et Pharaon', assessed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. True Ear Candy - Wagner's 'Lohengrin' at L A Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Timings - Breaking Moulds: 1910, by Jennifer Paull

CD Spotlight. Well Worth Exploration - Orchestral music by Lodewijk Mortelmans, heard by Robert Anderson. 'The performances ... are a delight ...'

A Golden Treasury - Havergal Brian on European and American music, read by Patric Standford

A Rich Resource - Teresa Verde explains how Theodore Deacon makes opera come alive

Ensemble. An Epic Opera - Rossini's 'William Tell', from Rome to the BBC Proms, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. No Intermission - Maria Nockin experiences Metropolitan Opera's HD transmission of 'Das Rheingold'

CD Spotlight. Vocal Colour - Simon Keenlyside sings Schubert, Wolf, Fauré and Ravel, heard by Robert Anderson. '... a wondrous variety ...'

CD Spotlight. Impeccable - Music by Szymanowski, Webern and Schoeck, recommended by Ron Bierman. 'The quartet plays with authority throughout ...'

Ensemble. Convincing and Engrossing - Robert Hugill visits the Gut Immling Festival for a performance of Wagner's 'The Flying Dutchman'

Ensemble. Airborne Fingers - A BPSE lunchtime recital by Harvey Dagul and Isobel Beyer, praised by Malcolm Troup

Ensemble. Performance to Cherish - Lawrence Budmen submits a further report from the Tanglewood Festival 2010

Ensemble. A Total Delight - The Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood, heard by Lawrence Budmen

Linear Clarity - Julian Jacobson's Wigmore Hall recital impresses Malcolm Miller

Ensemble. Indulging in Forbidden Consecutives - Mastersingers at the BBC Proms, reviewed by Robert Anderson

Ensemble. Limpid Clarity - 'The Barber of Baghdad' by Peter Cornelius, experienced by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. 'Alceste' in the Madhouse - Giuseppe Pennisi files his last report from the 2010 Aix-en-Provence Festival

Profile. The State of the Art - Maria Nockin talks to soprano Christine Brewer

CD Spotlight. Flight of Eloquence - Blomstedt conducts Bruckner, heard by Robert Anderson. '... opulence and splendour ...'

Ensemble. Intelligent and Satisfying - English National Opera's new production of 'Tosca', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. Seventh Heaven - Christine Brewer and Craig Rutenberg's recital in Los Angeles, reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. High Expectations - Barenboim's 'Das Rheingold' at La Scala, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Mahler versus Mahler - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Antonio Pappano and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia

Ensemble. Under the Tuscan Sun - Giuseppe Pennisi attends the beginning of the Tiroler Festspiele 2010

Ensemble. Atmosphere is Everything - Weber's 'Der Freischütz', reviewed by Robert Hugill

Ensemble. A Top-notch Formation - Operas by Zemlinsky and Puccini, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Maximum Interest - A double bill from Los Angeles Opera impresses Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Seething with Evil - Franz Schreker's 'Die Gezeichneten', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. Seldom Performed - 'Lulu' lands at La Scala, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Successful Production - Sixty Leitmotives for 'Tosca', by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A New Path - Music by Oliver Rudland, heard by Robert Anderson

CD Spotlight. Lyrical Powers - Orchestral music by Louis Spohr, heard by Robert Anderson. 'Howard Shelley and the Swiss orchestra clearly relish this unusual assignment.'

Ensemble. An Erotic 'Tannhäuser' in Bollywood - Giuseppe Pennisi has mixed feelings about La Scala's new Wagnerian production

Ensemble. Truly Memorable - A concert of arias at Arizona Opera impresses Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Indeed Eternal - 'Symphonie fantastique' and 'Le Carnaval romain', enjoyed by Robert Anderson. '... much to admire ...'

CD Spotlight. A Spectral Atmosphere - Murray McLachlan plays music by Shostakovich and friends, recommended by Howard Smith. '... an outright triumph for the label and for McLachlan.'

Ensemble. Sheer Tension - The first performance of the unabridged 'Elektra' enthralls the audience, related by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ensemble. A Double Farewell - Henze and Mahler in Rome, reported by Giuseppe Pennisi

DVD Spotlight. A Rarity - Jonathan Dove's 'The Adventures of Pinocchio', reviewed by Howard Smith. '... considerable merits on display ...'

Ensemble. A Particular Pleasure - Christine Brewer sings Wagner, enjoyed by Robert Hugill

CD Spotlight. Without Parallel - Haydn's late piano trios delight Robert Anderson. '... stylish and impeccable.'

Ensemble. Crystalline Lightness - A Symphony of the Americas concert, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

DVD Spotlight. Intensity and Concentration - Kurt Masur conducts Richard Strauss, reviewed by Kelly Ferjutz. '... beautifully and confidently performed ...'

CD Spotlight. Brilliantly Portrayed - Friedrich Klose's 'Ilsebill', praised by Gerald Fenech. '... a risky yet rewarding adventure ...'

Ensemble. Authority and Charisma - Wagner's 'Siegfried', reviewed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Deeply Felt - Verdi's 'Don Carlo' at Covent Garden, reviewed by Robert Hugill

Arts and the Colour of Politics - Béla Hartmann muses on growing social equality and democratization

CD Spotlight. Chameleon Virtues - Barenboim conducts Gershwin, Bernstein, Ravel and Wagner, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... the oddest assortment of music.'

DVD Spotlight. Extreme Individuality - A film about Delius, seen by Paul Sarcich. '... a commendable breadth.'

Bizarre Perception - Alistair Hinton discusses a recent article on English music by David Hamilton

Highly Articulate - American dramatic soprano Christine Brewer talks to Robert Hugill

A Real Find - Robert Davies made a remarkable impact when he stood in as Papageno late in the run of English Touring Opera's 'The Magic Flute'; Roderic Dunnett profiles him and celebrates the progress of other ETO cast members

A Natural Aristocrat - 'Cardus - Celebrant of Beauty' by Robin Daniels, reviewed by Robert Anderson

Caressing Hands - Andrejs Osokins at London's St Martin-in-the-Fields, heard by Julian Jacobson

CD Spotlight. Consistently Refined - Debussy transcriptions, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... these alternatives are never less than striking ...'

Ensemble. Recovered Voices - Two operas in Los Angeles over the Easter weekend, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. A Distinctive Voice - Music by Vincent d'Indy, recommended by Robert Anderson. 'The eloquent solo viola of Lawrence Power is crucial ...'

Ensemble. Winning Freshness - Music by Bach, Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn, Mozart and Wagner, played by Sinfonia Viva, and heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. New and Different - 'Rheingold' from Los Angeles, recommended by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. Thoroughly Enjoyable - An Arizona winter treat of Verdi's 'Aida', enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. A Passionate Attraction - The Cleveland Orchestra in Miami, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

CD Spotlight. A Special Quality - Music by Sibelius for voice and orchestra, recommended by Robert Anderson. 'Throughout the set BIS has maintained the high standards ...'

DVD Spotlight. Love Problems - Donizetti's 'l'Elisir d'amore', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... beguiling candour.'

DVD Spotlight. Insightful Performances - 'Die Walküre' from Provence, experienced by Maria Nockin. 'The cast is excellent.'

CD Spotlight. A Broader Canvas - Chamber music by Sibelius, enjoyed by Robert Anderson. '... fresh and unfamiliar music, put across with such conviction ...'

Pure Fashion? - Several Composers in Search of an Identity, by Béla Hartmann

Record Box. Admirable Musicianship - Caroline Clemmow and Anthony Goldstone play Chopin and entertain Robert Anderson

CD Spotlight. Bold and Inventive - Charles Avison's reworkings of Scarlatti, enjoyed by Robert Anderson. 'Avison's deployment of massed strings is wonderfully effective ...'

Ensemble. A Thrilling Performance - Wagner, Mozart and Schubert from Julian Bliss, Andreas Reiner and the Munich KlangVerwaltung, impresses Mike Wheeler

Record Box. Richness of Colour - Stokowski conducts Wagner, Enescu, Debussy and Stravinsky, enjoyed by Robert Anderson

Ensemble. Podium Celebrity - Valery Gergiev and the Mariinsky Orchestra in Florida, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen

Ensemble. Quirky Humour - Uri Caine meets Sinfonia Viva, and Mike Wheeler listens

CD Spotlight. A Special Joy - The Sibelius tone poems, recommended by Robert Anderson. '... so sparely wrought and of such integrity ...'

Ensemble. A Bright Future - Malcolm Miller was at the final night of the 2008 BBC Proms in London

Ensemble. Indelible Magic - Hansel and Gretel in New Zealand, experienced by Howard Smith

CD Spotlight. Stylish and Pointed - Stokowski conducts Bizet and Debussy, enjoyed by Robert Anderson. '... a rhythmic élan and masterly sense of line ...'

Ensemble. Propulsive Energy - Sinfonia Viva at the Buxton Festival, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Museum not Morgue - 'Opera and the Morbidity of Music', read by Robert Anderson

Ensemble. Radiant Loveliness - 'Tristan and Isolde' at Los Angeles Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin

Medieval Legends - Richard Wagner's 'Tannhäuser' at San Diego Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ensemble. On Fine Form - Jeremy Hagan and the Derby Concert Orchestra, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Full Circle - The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra opens Musikfest Berlin, reviewed by Ciaran McAuley

The Wandering Traveller - Kelly Ferjutz delves further into Richard Wagner and the forthcoming symposium in Ohio

Ensemble. Always a Thrill - Los Angeles Opera's production of Wagner's 'Tannhäuser', reviewed by Maria Nockin

Why Canton? - On the creation of an international Wagner symposium, by Kelly Ferjutz

DVD Spotlight. Taut Conviction - Wagner's 'Lohengrin', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... a delight to watch.'

Ensemble. Fiery Performance - The Hallé Orchestra plays Elgar and Wagner, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

DVD Spotlight. Leaves of Regeneration - Wagner's 'Tannhäuser', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... a subtlety no other house can match.'

DVD Spotlight. Much Resonance - Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in Ramallah, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... an orchestra of first-class accomplishment.'

Ensemble. A Chinese Wunderkind - Nine-year-old Niu Niu's Wigmore Hall début, admired by Malcolm Troup

Ensemble. Vocally and Visually Spectacular - Maria Nockin at the première of Goldenthal's opera 'Grendel, Transcendence of the Great Big Bad'

Ensemble. Magnificent Wagner - Lorin Maazel's orchestral transcription of 'The Ring', enjoyed by Kelly Ferjutz

Ensemble. Close to Perfection - Arizona Opera's 'The Flying Dutchman', enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Ask Alice - On the relative merits of Bach and Wagner, with Classical Music Agony Aunt Alice McVeigh

DVD Spotlight. Mysterious nirvana - Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... the climaxes are prepared with meticulous cunning.'

Ensemble. Punchy dynamism - Sinfonia ViVA at Derby's Guildhall, enjoyed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Operatic delights - Canadian Opera Company's Altamira Summer Arts Concerts, reviewed by Malcolm Miller

Provocations - Alistair Hinton and Chad Wozniak discuss Patric Standford's recent 'Provocative Thoughts'

DVD Spotlight. History and myth - Wagner's 'Götterdämmerung', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... a crowning glory from Bertrand de Billy and his superb team ...'

DVD Spotlight. Stunning lighting - Highlighs from Barenboim's 'Ring', concluding a series of reviews by Robert Hugill. 'The balance ... favours Evans more, which is a good thing.'

CD Spotlight. A tremendous conclusion - 'Twilight of the Gods' from Bayreuth, reviewed by Robert Hugill. '... well worth waiting for.'

CD Spotlight. Sheer beauty - Barenboim's 'Siegfried', in the continuing set of reviews by Robert Hugill. '... a highly listenable, dramatic experience.'

CD Spotlight. Truly believable - Barenboim conducts Wagner's 'Das Rheingold' from Bayreuth, reviewed by Robert Hugill. '... a beautiful, well-shaped, flowing performance.'

DVD Spotlight. Dramatic skill - Wagner's 'Siegfried', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... when it is sung as beautifully as here, one is humbly grateful.'

DVD Spotlight. Utmost art - Die Walküre, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... live performances that rightly earn due applause act by act ...'

Am I too loud? - Robert Hugill muses on Wagnerian sopranos and changing performance tradition

Ensemble. Vital performance - 'Die Walküre', appreciated by Robert Hugill

CD Spotlight. Emotional drama - Tristan und Isolde, appreciated by Maria Nockin. '... you feel you are sitting in the tenth row center ...'

DVD Spotlight. Sinister power - 'Das Rheingold', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... a joyous experience ...'

Ensemble. A real triumph - McIntyre sings Wotan at Longborough Festival Opera, reviewed by Roderic Dunnett

Record box. Movingly beautiful - Robert Dean Smith sings Wagner, reviewed by Tess Crebbin

Triumphs and failures - The first week of the Munich Opera Festival 2004, reviewed by Tess Crebbin and Sissy Kotzebue

Ensemble. On the lake - Toronto's summer musical fare, including music by Wagner, Weill and Alex Eddington, sampled by Malcolm Miller

Music matters - Gordon Rumson reads Wilfrid Mellers' book 'Singing in the Wilderness: Music and Ecology in the Twentieth Century'

Editorial musings with Basil Ramsey - An eager response. Some editorial thoughts requiring readers' follow-ups

Editorial musings with Basil Ramsey - Walking wounded

Editorial musings with Basil Ramsey. The right notes - Recalling the rigours of musical accuracy

Editorial musings with Basil Ramsey. From Wagner to Bach - A long journey in performance practice

Provocative thoughts, from Patric Standford - neglected genius

The Ring in Chemnitz - Robert Anderson pays a visit

Beyond Brussels - Roderic Dunnett concludes his visit to de Vlaamse Opera

Getting the bird - Roderic Dunnett looks back with delight at Longborough Festival Opera's new production of Wagner's Siegfried