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. A Great Start - Freddie Meyers' new opera A Sketch of Slow Time impresses Alice McVeigh.
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Ensemble. Rewarding Performances - Arizona Opera's 'The Abduction from the Seraglio', reviewed by Maria Nockin
Mahler versus Mahler - Two symphony orchestras are playing Mahler in Rome, by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Riveting Characterization - Verdi's 'Otello' at Arizona Opera impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. An Eclectic Mix - Mieczyslaw Weinberg's 'The Portrait' at Opera North, experienced by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Inside the Music - Mike Wheeler listens to the Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Think Again - A late review of Anvil (and some musings on classical music equivalents), by Gordon Rumson
Protect and Survive - Mike Wheeler was at the Annual Conference of the Association of British Orchestras
Ensemble. Full of Irony - Shostakovich's 'The Nose', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ask Alice - On pensions, money, burglars, bankers and teeth, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh
CD Spotlight. Beautifully Considered - Music for violin and viola, heard by Howard Smith. 'Braun has a firm, bright, highly focused tone ...'
Ensemble. Darkness to Light - Giuseppe Pennisi visits the Ravenna Festival
Thoroughly Impressed - Maria Nockin talks to baritone Alan Opie, who is about to sing Germont for San Diego Opera
Ninety Stars are Born - Giuseppe Pennisi tours Austria with a young Italian symphony orchestra
Ensemble. The Quality of the Cooks - Verdi comic operas on stage, tasted by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ask Alice - Elegy and Celebration, by classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh
Imaginative Heights - Gordon Rumson looks forward to the Calgary Art Song Competition
CD Spotlight. Effectively Performed - Music for violin, cello and piano, heard by Howard Smith. '... beautiful, technically accomplished playing ...'
A dream come true - Carolyn Ellis on buying a new piano
Ensemble. A Classy Show - Pimlico Opera's 'Rigoletto', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Arts and the Colour of Politics - Béla Hartmann muses on growing social equality and democratization
Ask Alice - Classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh deals with the all-too-human feelings of annoyance, rejection and worry
Thank You Mama - Bill Newman talks to pianist Igor Tchetuev
Making a Real Fuss - Robert Hugill looks forward to English Touring Opera's HandelFest this autumn
Ask Alice - On business and friends, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh
Ask Alice - On business, payment and the arts, with classical music agony aunt Alice McVeigh
Music for the People - Amanda von Goetz talks to young violinist and composer William Harvey