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.
SPONSORED: Ensemble. Last Gasp of Boyhood. Roderic Dunnett investigates Jubilee Opera's A Time There Was for the Benjamin Britten centenary.
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Classical music news. Laughter and Tears - Announcing a new Canadian opera and marking the Gustav Holst anniversary at the UK's Thaxted Festival
Profile. Big Roles - Ron Bierman talks to American soprano Michelle Bradley
Ensemble. An Ambitious Conceit - Mike Wheeler is impressed by James Brining's production of Mozart's 'The Magic Flute'
Ensemble. A Magical Zauberflöte - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the opening of Teatro dell'Opera di Roma's autumn season
Ensemble. Deutsche Oper - Mozart's 'Die Zauberflöte' at the Salzburg Summer Festival, 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
Ensemble. A Mini 'Magic Flute' - Giuseppe Pennisi attends one of Stefano Belisari's last performances as Elio e le Storie Tese, in one of Mozart's most mysterious and ambiguous operas
Ensemble. Colorful Delights - Mozart's 'The Magic Flute', live in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera, impresses Maria Nockin
CD Spotlight. Anything and Everything - Mainstreet Brass, enjoyed by the late Howard Smith. 'An exhilirating brass ensemble in a theatrical range of moods; you really can't go wrong.'
Ensemble. Great Stage Presence - Lucas Ball reviews a production that emphasises The Magic Flute's fun elements
Ensemble. A 3D Fairytale - Mozart's 'The Magic Flute' from Bologna impresses Giuseppe Pennisi
DVD Spotlight. Playful Fantasy - 'Die Zauberflöte' from Bregenz, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... sparkling cast ...'
Ensemble. Film Noir - 'The Magic Flute' from Berlin's Komische Oper, reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Fairytale Atmosphere - Giuseppe Pennisi reports on the opening night of 'Die Zauberflöte' in Rome
Ensemble. Rewarding Performances - Arizona Opera's 'The Abduction from the Seraglio', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Positively Enchanting - Phoenix Opera's 'The Magic Flute', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Much to Enjoy - Johannes Goritzki and Julian Jacobson at London's Royal College of Music, heard by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Spirited Performances - Santa Fe Opera's 'The Magic Flute' impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Truly Fascinating - A Santa Fe Opera digest, including the recent Kaye Edition of 'The Tales of Hoffmann', by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Under the Tuscan Sun - Giuseppe Pennisi attends the beginning of the Tiroler Festspiele 2010
CD Spotlight. Irresistible Enjoyment - Music by Mozart and Mendelssohn, heard by Howard Smith. '... a truly idiomatic performance ...'
Ensemble. A Fine Rendition - 'Così fan tutte' at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin
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
DVD Spotlight. Superlative Music - Mozart's 'Don Giovanni', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... the flames are formidable ...'
Ensemble. Sometimes Impressive - Bellini's 'Norma' from English Touring Opera, heard by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Crisp and Incisive - English Touring Opera's 'Magic Flute', enjoyed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Operatic Passions - Francesco Cilea's 'Adriana Lecouvreur', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. An Absolute Delight - Maria Nockin finds perfection in Los Angeles Opera's revival of Peter Hall's 1993 production of 'The Magic Flute'
DVD Spotlight. Fictional Hokum - Kevin Sullivan's 'Magic Flute Diaries', reviewed by Howard Smith. '... a "rag-bag" of special effects and Mozartian absurdities ...'
Museum not Morgue - 'Opera and the Morbidity of Music', read by Robert Anderson
DVD Spotlight. Spitfire Coloratura - Die Zauberflöte from Covent Garden, reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... this admirable DVD is a double first ...'
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.'
DVD Spotlight. Unwavering Concentration - A 'Magic Flute' for children, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... a very special production ...'
Ensemble. A Celebratory Feel - Grange Park Opera's 'The Magic Flute', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. The Power of Music - Performances of 'The Magic Flute' and 'Orfeo' from Opera North, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. New Meanings? - An evening of subtle brutality, by Karen Haid
Ensemble. Magical Music Theatre - Patric Standford was at the first night of Opera North's 'The Magic Flute'
Ensemble. A Light Touch - Mozart's 'The Magic Flute', enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Infectious Verve - Maria Nockin was at San Diego Opera's 'The Magic Flute'
Ensemble. A Rare Treat - A New Jersey 'Magic Flute', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Incandescent conviction - Mozart, Schubert and Beethoven in Littleover, reviewed by Mike Wheeler