Unless the major institutions learn the lessons of smaller companies and get closer to their audiences they run the risk of reducing opera to a museum piece, director John Fulljames tells Nick Kimberley... more
It was Richard Hickox who, with a characteristically ebullient phone call in 2008, just three days before his untimely death, commissioned Colin Matthews's latest piece from him... more
The first big event in London’s music calendar is the UK premiere of Die tote Stadt, Korngold’s 1920 work that finally brought opera into the real world... more
A 100-year History Cycle and an Othello reinvented, a vivacious newcomer and a brace of best actresses — our judges explain why they chose the winners of the 2008 Evening Standard Theatre Awards.... more
Paris Hilton partied, Princess Michael swanned around and Fergie turned up with Beatrice in tow - this was designer Nicky Haslam's bash for his 800 closest friends... more
As The Mail on Sunday gives away his new album iSELECT, David Bowie reveals in his own words the fascinating stories behind the songs he personally selected for this unique CD.... more
English National Opera is joining forces with the Young Vic to create a new kind of opera out of a film by David Lynch. Something as bold as this could work only in London, says its director Diane Paulus.... more
The BBCSO negotiated its way deftly through the ambiguities of Judith Weir's tantalisingly suggestive score under the assured baton of Martyn Brabbins.... more
Just when you'd expect her to be unleashing her eagerly anticipated second album on the world, up pops Martha Wainwright performing onstage with the Royal Ballet.... more
Performed at Wandsworth Prison by a mixture of inmates and professionals, Pimlico Opera's Les Miserables had energy in abundance and no little finesse.... more
As Daniel Craig dons the famous tuxedo for the 21st film in the "official" 007 canon, Casino Royale, our experts pick their favourites Bond film so far.... more
Spectacular stage design, but Berthold Brecht's text and Kurt Weill's music at times lacked dynamism during the performance of two rarely performed operatic pieces.... more
Morning:
9°c
