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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.
Ensemble. Exhilarating Final Moments - Opera North's live streaming of Beethoven's 'Fidelio' impresses Mike Wheeler
Beethoven 250 - In this year of celebration, Giuseppe Pennisi muses on Ludwig van Beethoven's modernity
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
Ensemble. Love and Freedom - Beethoven's 'Fidelio', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. First Thoughts - Mike Wheeler reports on Beethoven at the 2016 Buxton Festival
Ensemble. Troubles in Florence - Maggio Musicale Fiorentino's 'Fidelio' is performed under difficult conditions, described by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. The Ambiguity of 'Fidelio' - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the opening night of La Scala's opera season
Ensemble. Thoroughly Delightful - Maria Nockin visits Santa Fe Opera and experiences all of their 2014 productions
Ensemble. From chains to the Almighty - Twentieth century operas in Rome, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
DVD Spotlight. Wonderfully Resourceful - Rossini's 'Il Turco in Italia', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The orchestra under Antonello Allemandi seem to have relished the evening as much as I did.'
Ensemble. Hokey Plot? - Mike Wheeler was at Opera North's 'Fidelio'
Ensemble. Profoundly Satisfying - Cherubini's 'Medée', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Airborne Fingers - A BPSE lunchtime recital by Harvey Dagul and Isobel Beyer, praised by Malcolm Troup
Ensemble. Truly Memorable - A concert of arias at Arizona Opera impresses Maria Nockin
Highly Articulate - American dramatic soprano Christine Brewer talks to Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Sing ye to the Lord - Roderic Dunnett was at the 2009 Hereford Three Choirs Festival
Ensemble. Sometimes Impressive - Bellini's 'Norma' from English Touring Opera, heard by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. A Blockbuster Weekend - Beethoven's 'Fidelio' and Verdi's 'Requiem' at Los Angeles Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
DVD Spotlight. Bloodthirsty Tyranny - A historical production of Beethoven's 'Fidelio', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... Beethoven is free to tell an unvarnished tale ...'
Ensemble. Fiery Performance - The Hallé Orchestra plays Elgar and Wagner, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Devotion and heroism - Ted and Emi Norrish enjoy a musical weekend in Munich
Ensemble - Jubilant 'Choral' Symphony for the Jubilee. Malcolm Miller at the penultimate London Soloists Chamber Orchestra 'Totally Beethoven' concert