In review: The First Commandment

Review

"Flaws" like an overly thick orchestration, or a vocal tessitura that is relentless and awkward, are what thrill the lovers of music history; it's indicative of just how much of a genius Mozart was, that moments of orchestra imbalance or slightly less organic melodies - largely harmless in the big picture - seem the "rudimentary" product of 11 year-old Wolfgang.

In review: Daniels & Katz at Wigmore Hall

Review

With a career that started twenty-five years ago, singing entirely different from our patriarchs of Alfred Deller and James Bowman, Daniels is responsible for growing what was once a niched zoo animal of a fach into one to stand up with the rest of them. In doing so, he has set the bar extremely high for countertenors, to a standard to which he continues to hold himself.

"Kinder schafft neues": Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Review

Die Meistersinger is a story about tradition, and whether or not it's good for anything; it exposes how people treat tradesman differently from artists, and the contempt that makers of "high art" can have for the opinions of the general public. Holten's production seems to shine extra light on the tradition of using women as prizes, even complicating the matter with an Eva Pogner who doesn't even get the chance to manipulate the system to her own advantage.

Talking with singers: Chen Reiss

Interview

"It is very important to leave a few weeks a year free from work so that I can truly rest, recharge and miss the stage. Saying NO to certain offers is not easy but sometimes necessary. I realized it during my maternity leave, in which I did not sing a tone for 6 months!! I did not even sing in the bath. It was wonderful but even more wonderful was coming back to the audience, to the theater, to the orchestras, I was so fresh and enthusiastic."

Unpopular opinions: when "bravo!" kills the mood

Op-ed

Frankly, a "bravo" best follows an aria with a great high note near the end, or some stellar coloratura, or one of those spinning-to-the-bitter-end final notes that singers love to do in bel canto. In other cases, where an aria should leave you sunken in your seat, fading out into the sounds of a pin-drop silence, shouting "bravo" is just obscene.

Don't miss: Sasha Regan's All-male Mikado

Interview

"The innocence, the memories of laughter, the pure voices and the playfulness of us all dressing up. All of these elements remind me of school and when I wanted to stage a Gilbert & Sullivan with a fresh take, my school days gave me the inspiration. I always try to retain that child-like, innocent feel in my productions."

In review: Sondra Radvanovsky's stunning London recital debut

Review

Looking around the crowd in Cadogan Hall, we've never seen so many people wiping their eyes or stifling sniffles. Radvanovsky pairs truly excellent singing with her whole heart and soul; she's honest and candid with her audiences, and with that bridge of personal connection come all the listeners' waterworks.

Alexandra Bourque: "It is such a rush of adrenaline."

Interview

"I believe it is because of the subjectivity within the audition process that it is still difficult for women to gain entry into this profession. Even with the best education and experience, if you do not fit "the vision," which has traditionally been of a male conductor, you do not have a chance."

In review: Partenope at ENO

Review

There's no envy on our end for directors who put up Handel operas, and Partenope seems another which poses tricky dramaturgical questions; the biggest of these is the problem fo where these characters are, and why they share a common space. Alden's open-house concept, where everyone seems to hang out chez Partenope, works well; he finds an organic way to waver between real-time action and inner monologues, as though he hits "pause" and "play" on the general timeline of the story.

Gok's Divas: solid picks, despite the packaging

Editorial

For folks like us - who often get accused of opera snobbery - hearing Wan talk about how great the "songs" are, and singling out picks like "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess can be annoying. But in reality, Wan is choosing smart talking points for interviews on mainstream TV.