THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL: Roderic Dunnett previews the 2024 edition of the UK's oldest music festival, 27 July until 4 August.
PROVOCATIVE THOUGHTS:
The late Patric Standford may have written these short pieces deliberately to provoke our feedback. If so, his success is reflected in the rich range of readers' comments appearing at the foot of most of the pages.
Echoes of Oblivion by Robert McCarney - Artificial Prejudices
Ensemble. A 'Portable' Devil - Giuseppe Pennisi visits Pisa for Arrigo Boito's 'Mefistofele'
Ensemble. Challenging, Versatile and Unexpected - Roderic Dunnett visits Hungarian State Opera
Ensemble. Whizzy Visuals - Gounod's 'Faust', reviewed by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Searing Intensity - Havergal Brian's 'Gothic' Symphony impresses Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Excellent Stagecraft - Gounod's 'Faust' transmitted live in high definition from New York Metropolitan Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. A Triumphant Return - Gounod's 'Faust' at New York Metropolitan Opera, reviewed by Gregory Moomjy
Ensemble. A Date with the Devil - Gounod's 'Faust' at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Faust versus Faust - Two concerts conducted by Antonio Pappano, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Santa Fe, The City Different - Maria Nockin enjoys the summer opera fare in North America's oldest capital city
CD Spotlight. Striking Power - Leslie Howard plays Rachmaninov, heard by Howard Smith. '... a staggering technique.'
Ensemble. More Fantasy? - Robert Hugill has reservations about Terry Gilliam's production of Berlioz's 'The Damnation of Faust'
Ensemble. Truly Beautiful - Gounod's 'Faust' at San Diego Opera delights Maria Nockin
CD Spotlight. Positively Spellbinding - Music for clarinet, piano and cello, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... a fine recording ...'
Ensemble. An Eclectic Mix - Mieczyslaw Weinberg's 'The Portrait' at Opera North, experienced by Mike Wheeler
Performances to Remember - Maria Nockin looks forward to San Diego Opera's 2011 season
Ensemble. An Epic Opera - Rossini's 'William Tell', from Rome to the BBC Proms, by Giuseppe Pennisi
CD Spotlight. Powerful and Concise - Blomstedt conducts Richard Strauss, heard by Robert Anderson. '... a composer of infinite promise ...'
Ensemble. An Excellent Performance - Gounod's 'Romeo and Juliet' at San Diego Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. The Devil and the Bourgeoisie - Giuseppe Pennisi listens to Arrigo Boito's 'Mefistofele'
CD Spotlight. Melodic Impact - Music by Spohr, Rolla and Kalliwoda, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... seasoned insights and faultless empathy.'
CD Spotlight. A Generous Earful - Peter Dawson favourites from Gregory Yurisch and the Tasmanian Symphony, enjoyed by Howard Smith. '... in this repertoire they hardly miss a trick.'
Faust and the 'Free World' - Madeline Jenkins Millard tells the tale of Tresa Waggoner and the Bennett Six
The Designer Touch - Tonina Doráti and opera production, as explained to Bill Newman
Ensemble. The devil is in the details - Schumann's 'Scenes from Faust' in Cleveland, appreciated by Kelly Ferjutz
Ensemble. Vibrant production - Gounod's 'Faust' at Palm Beach Opera, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Planning your collection - Faust, Iona Brown and Percy Grainger