In review: Peter & Deutsch at Wigmore Hall

Review

Peter and Deutsch chose songs that were a blatant reminder of just how tender-hearted men can be, especially concerning the opposite sex. There seemed a theme of lavishing praise on women, and Peter had us convinced that he was a true heart-on-his-sleeve romantic.

The best bad meal in London: the Faulty Towers Dining Experience

Review

It's an evening full of scripted sketches and impressive improvisation alike, all three characters constantly interacting with the guests. Diners were scolded for "hanky panky" at the table, reprimanded for taking too long to eat their soup, and they made room under the table for hiding Basils. Manuel caused wave after wave of eye rolls with his hilarious lost-in-translation antics, and the simmering domestic dispute between Basil and Sybil was anything but subtle.

The weird mystery of the Met's "diva directors"

Editorial

This paragraph seems dangerously presumptuous, and more than a little insulting to Meyers. It's quite a thing to say, that a director was entirely uninvolved in a singer's performance, and to credit a singer with being the saving grace of a production. It's a simple case of problematic journalism: how does Jorden know that Damrau's performance wasn't guided by Meyers?

2017/18 at the Met: are conservative seasons the way to go?

Editorial

By far, the coolest thing on the Met's new season line-up is Thomas Adès' The Exterminating Angel, when the composer himself will conduct a cast that includes the likes of Audrey Luna, Alice Coote, and Iestyn Davies. The opera seems to be the token new work of the season, like Saariaho's L'amour de loin was in 2016.

Tara Erraught: "My job is to tell a story."

Interview

"I also adore singing Hansel, as I feel like I play exactly as my brother was when we were children, and let me tell you, boys have more fun! (They don't care about keeping their clothes clean, or sitting up straight, or how their hair looks... they just eat, play and are merry!)"

Talking with singers: Robin Johannsen

Interview

"It's like a burning desire to connect with people," says Johannsen of her pursuit of opera. "I think I do it because there's unfortunately nothing else that I can find that makes me have that feeling that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing." Not everyone finds a career that's fulfilling, let alone one "where you really feel alive."

A response to "our response"

Op-ed

So is it enough to simply lay down Bernstein's words every time tragedy strikes? No. And while beauty is important in art, art also must challenge, alert and stimulate its performers and listeners, opening our minds to new, diverse thoughts, connecting us to our common humanity, reflecting the darkness of our times and motivating us into action. Activists have already started their marches worldwide: the Women's Marches, most recently the anti-wall marches in Mexico, and anti-Islamophobia marches in Toronto.

4 great love duets & why they're awkward

Humour

Yet Cio-Cio San is singing about life-long marriage and the happiness and stability it would bring her; Pinkerton is really singing about experiencing the world, marvelling at the obedience and admiration in the eyes of his young Japanese wife and getting excited to have some exotic sex with her. And never forget that line about Cio-Cio San being fifteen years old...yikes.

Don't miss: the Amici Ensemble reimagines Don Giovanni

News

Insiring the concert's title, Don Giovanni Reimagined, the Amici ensemble presents Josef Triebensee's arrangement; the Bohemian oboist and composer reduced Mozar'ts opera, scoring it for a chamber ensemble of wind instruments, and enough singers to cover the short selection of numbers from the opera.

Talking with singers: Ailyn Pérez

Interview

"I would tell everybody that the work is real," she says with a laugh. "Just because now you've sung at the Metropolitan Opera or have a new production, or have reached your dream role...the work still remains." Pérez describes it as having to "reintroduce yourself all the time," taking charge of her own professional choices and constantly looking ahead to the next project.