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.
FROM ROME: Keep in touch with the Italian opera and classical music scene by reading Giuseppe Pennisi's regular reports.
CD Spotlight. Compositional Thought - Piano music by John Corigliano, recommended by Karen Haid. 'Oppens and Lowenthal give strong performances of this music.'
DVD Spotlight. Doubly Effective - A classic documentary with music by Copland, reviewed by Howard Smith. '... a fascinating picture of America ...'
Ensemble. Hokey Plot? - Mike Wheeler was at Opera North's 'Fidelio'
Sex and Absolute Power - Handel's 'Giulio Cesare in Egitto', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Simple and Effective - A new production of Verdi's 'Nabucco' celebrates the 150th anniversary of Italy's Unification, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
CD Spotlight. Distinct Insights - Dejan Lazic plays Beethoven, heard by Howard Smith. '... a crisp, vernal, excellently deliniated performance ...'
Ensemble. Psychological Portraits - Opera North's 'Carmen', experienced by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Full of Irony - Shostakovich's 'The Nose', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
CD Spotlight. A Magnificent Celebration - Three Rodrigo guitar concertos, enjoyed by Robert Anderson. 'Alfonso Moreno is a superb protagonist, technically impeccable ...'
Ensemble. Unmistakably American - William Bolcom's 'A View from the Bridge', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. A Wonderful Rendition - Puccini's 'La Fanciulla del West' at the movies impresses Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Mediterranean Splendour - Dancing to Bizet's 'L'Arlésienne' and 'Carmen', by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. A Touch of Élan - Héloîse Geoghegan and Michael Joyce, heard by Mary Isaac
Ensemble. A High-level Production - 'The Merry Widow', heard by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. True Ear Candy - Wagner's 'Lohengrin' at L A Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Profoundly Satisfying - Cherubini's 'Medée', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Brisk and Powerful - 'Carmen' in Tucson, enjoyed by Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Growing Up - Hans Werner Henze's 'Pollicino' thrills children and adults in Florence, by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Artistic Magic - Seraphic Fire's Rachmaninov Vespers, reviewed by Lawrence Budmen
Ensemble. Firmly in Period - Grange Park Opera's 'Madama Butterfly', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Hugely Satisfying - As New Zealand arts funding strikes a sour note, Howard Smith listens to the Vector Wellington Orchestra
CD Spotlight. Powerful and Concise - Blomstedt conducts Richard Strauss, heard by Robert Anderson. '... a composer of infinite promise ...'
CD Spotlight. Clearly Etched - Violin concerti by Vieuxtemps, heard by Stephen Francis Vasta. '... crisp ensemble and warm, full tone ...'
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
Most Welcome - The first edition of two Elgar movements for oboe quartet, reviewed by Robert Anderson
Ensemble. Performance to Cherish - Lawrence Budmen submits a further report from the Tanglewood Festival 2010
Ensemble. Eyes Tight Shut - 'La Fanciulla del West' at the Puccini Festival, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. 'Alceste' in the Madhouse - Giuseppe Pennisi files his last report from the 2010 Aix-en-Provence Festival
Ensemble. A Small Masterpiece - Richard Rodney Bennett's 'All the King's Men' impresses Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Terrific Pace and Direction - Verdi's 'Luisa Miller' at the Buxton Festival, recommended by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Splendid Ideas - Stravinsky's 'Le Rossignol' impresses Giuseppe Pennisi
DVD Spotlight. A Glorious Time - Purcell's 'The Fairy Queen', recommended by Robert Anderson. '... tender expression and all requisite vim.'
Flowers of Light - Puccini's 'I crisantemi' as a pedagogical tool for piano performance majors, by Heidi Lowy
Ensemble. Total Confidence - Sinfonia Viva's summer schools project, 'Floratorio', reviewed by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Contemporary Resonance - Grange Park Opera's 'Capriccio', enjoyed by Robert Hugill
CD Spotlight. Flight of Eloquence - Blomstedt conducts Bruckner, heard by Robert Anderson. '... opulence and splendour ...'
CD Spotlight. Great Abilities - Piano trios by Donald Tovey, heard by Robert Anderson. '... diatonic convictions ...'
CD Spotlight. Rhythmic Freedom - Geoffrey Lancaster plays Haydn, heard by Robert Anderson. '... a very auspicious start.'
CD Spotlight. A Must-have - Piano music by Federico Mompou, recommended by Natalie Artemas-Polak. 'Haskell Small's contemplative approach admirably suits these pieces ...'
Thoroughly Impressed - Maria Nockin talks to baritone Alan Opie, who is about to sing Germont for San Diego Opera
Ensemble. Seldom Performed - 'Lulu' lands at La Scala, by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Highly Imaginative - Sinfonia Viva's schools residency concert, attended by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. Formidably Difficult - Antonín Dvorák's Piano Concerto, heard by Stephen Francis Vasta. '... commendable, as far as it goes.'
Ensemble. Celebrating in Style - Derby Concert Orchestra's sixtieth birthday, with Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Unusual and Different - Tan Dun's 'The Banquet', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi
Profile. Encouraging Others - Maria Nockin talks to Stephen Costello and Ailyn Perez, the young couple singing Gounod's 'Romeo and Juliet' this month at San Diego Opera
Ensemble. A Perfect Falstaff - Giuseppe Pennisi visits the Vienna State Opera
Ensemble. A True Dynamo - Lawrence Budmen listens to French conductor Ludovic Morlot, in concert with Jennifer Koh and the New World Symphony
DVD Spotlight. A New Light - La Scala gives 'Maria Stuarda' the royal treatment, by Gregory Moomjy. '... the cast was in fine voice ...'
Ensemble. The Quality of the Cooks - Verdi comic operas on stage, tasted by Giuseppe Pennisi
DVD Spotlight. Tragic Power - Handel's 'Tamerlano', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The simplicity of the production is welcome ...'
CD Spotlight. Transcendent Resignation - Mahler's Ninth Symphony, heard by David Wilkins. '... played with love and knowledge and commitment ...'
Ensemble. Meticulously Explored - Bellini's 'La Somnambula' provides a long-awaited answer to an age-old question, as experienced by Gregory Moomjy
CD Spotlight. An Exceptional Recording - Mozart's 'Idomeneo', treasured by Patric Standford. '... beautifully paced and crafted ...'
Ensemble. Excellent Singing - Handel and Rossini from Los Angeles Opera impress Maria Nockin
Ensemble. Style and Drama - Gluck's 'Alceste', heard by Robert Hugill
CD Spotlight. Mice in the Manger - A selection of Christmas music, enjoyed by George Balcombe. '... an amazing collection.'
Ensemble. A Fascinating Anthology - Music on the theme of angels, heard by Mike Wheeler
A Model of Clarity - A new score of Elgar's 'Mina', appraised by Robert Anderson
CD Spotlight. Highly Challenging - Music for unaccompanied violin, heard by Howard Smith. '... searching performance ...'
Ensemble. Vivid and Enlivening - Donizetti's 'Maria di Rohan', reviewed by Robert Hugill
CD Spotlight. Irresistible Enjoyment - Music by Mozart and Mendelssohn, heard by Howard Smith. '... a truly idiomatic performance ...'
Ensemble. Robust Voices - Susan Hampton visits Boston for Puccini's 'La bohème'
Ensemble. A Standout Production - New Zealand Opera's 'Eugene Onegin' impresses Howard Smith
CD Spotlight. Brilliantly Portrayed - Friedrich Klose's 'Ilsebill', praised by Gerald Fenech. '... a risky yet rewarding adventure ...'
Ensemble. Brisk Ebullience - Lawrence Budmen sends a second report from this summer's Tanglewood Festival
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
Making a Real Fuss - Robert Hugill looks forward to English Touring Opera's HandelFest this autumn
Ensemble. Clarity of Texture - Lawrence Budmen listens to the Remenyi Ede Chamber Orchestra
Ensemble. A Different Sort of Beauty - Janácek's 'The Cunning Little Vixen', reviewed by Robert Hugill
Ensemble. Dramatic Essentials - 'Carmen' from Paris, enjoyed by Robert Hugill
The Composer's Conundrum - Gordon Rumson has some bad news about creativity and self-promotion
A Major Pleasure - A new study score of Elgar's 'Empire March', reviewed by Robert Anderson