You may think the idea of love potions somewhat antiquated but in The Elixir of Love, a cheap bottle of plonk does the trick for the nice but dim Nemorino... more
Given their reputation for wild orgies, stiletto assassinations and poisonings, there's a certain cinematic extravagance about the activities of the House of Borgia... more
Any director who introduces Dawn French into an opera is taking a risk, but Donizetti intended the Duchess of Crackentorp to be a spoken role in La fille du Régiment.... more
Antony Walker's assured conducting in Lucia Di Lammermoor complements Alden's direction, making for a constantly gripping evening's musical theatre... more
The bel canto operas of Gaetano Donizetti are too rarely performed. So it was a great pleasure last weekend to go with my family to Opera Holland Park to see a splendid production of Roberto Devereux ... more
London's premier summer opera festival has begun and Opera Holland Park has lined up as enticing a programme as ever, starting with Roberto Devereux.... more
Zandra Rhodes will design the set and costumes for an extravagant new production of Aida, the highlight of the English National Opera's new season announced today.... more
She'll never be as stroppy as Angela, but soprano Nicole Cabell has proved she's talented enough to stand in for the great diva at a day's notice.... more
Concerts devoted to Elgar, Mozart's classic The Marriage of Figaro and the Crouch End Festival Chorus all feature among Barry Millington's picks.... more
A bravura cast performance, including a five-minute cameo from Dawn French, made La Fille Du Regiment something special. Fiona Maddocks loved it.... more
Exclusive: After high-profile allegations this season, Charlton's manager is pleased the issue is now being addressed but says the authorities still have plenty of work to do
Morning:
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