Keel Watson (August 9 1964 - November 8 2023) I did not know Keel well but was pleased to have chatted to him during the run of...

‘Peter Grimes’ – English National Opera, Friday 6th October 2023 Gwyn Hughes Jones was indisposed for the performances of ENO’s ‘Peter...

Why is Sir John Falstaff so popular with readers and opera and theatre goers? From an objective viewpoint he is not at all admirable, or...

As men, Othello and Macbeth have some things in common: they are both men of action, brave and proven warriors, whose natural element...

Football, Association Football, Soccer, Footie, the Game, call it what you will, is arguably the most potent social-cultural phenomenon...

VERDI AND SHAKESPEARE Over 200 operas have been based on the plays of Shakespeare. The reasons for this are not hard to identify: there...

To start with an erratum: apologies to Ruairi Bowen for spelling his first name incorrectly in my initial review. It's also worth noting...

Andrew Irwin Loch Erne’s Shore Since I started to listen seriously to classical singers I have been particularly fond of the repertoire...

‘Iolanthe’ Oxford University Gilbert and Sullivan Society May 1973 My last post – a review of ENO’s recent ‘Iolanthe’ – stirred some long...

‘Iolanthe’ English National Opera – October 2023 Cal McCrystal’s production of ‘Iolanthe’ was a big hit when first staged and judging by...

Regarding Somervell's 'A Shropshire Lad', I unforgiveably forgot Sir Bryn Terfel's splendid version on his 'Silent Noon' CD - so let's...

Benjamin Appl has the highest profile of the three young singers being discussed. He is a former ‘Gramophone’ Young Artist of the Year, a...

So now onto James Newby and ‘Fallen to Dust’. I understand that Newby’s inspiration for this recording was singing Finzi’s ‘Fear No More...

THREE WORTH HEARING The three recordings I am about to consider, ‘Unveiled’ sung by Welsh tenor Elgan Llyr Thomas, ‘Fallen to Dust’...

I am publishing my review of recordings by Elgan Llyr Thomas, James Newby and Benjamin Appl in three separate posts. Elgan Llyr Thomas...

I am putting the finishing touches to my review of new recordings by Elgan Llyr Thomas ('Unveiled'); James Newby ('Fallen to Dust') and...

I am going to be reviewing a range of recordings, radio recitals and live concerts focussing on the classical vocal repertoire. Please...