Best Concerts and Opera in January
A London debut, plus opera by Puccini and Strauss – and at the cinema
Scotland Unwrapped, Kings Place
From a violin made in Edinburgh in 1731 to cutting edge percussionist Evelyn Glennie, from artists such as tenor Nicky Spence, born in Scotland, to composers such as Mendelssohn in love with the Highlands and Islands, a year-long celebration of music made in or inspired by Scotland. Artists include Colin Currie (pictured), creating a whole sound world with percussion only.
Read more ...Oxford Bach Soloists, London debut concert
Bring the festive season at St James’s Piccadilly to a glittering finale and be in on the next big thing when Oxford Bach Soloists make their London debut. The aim of this elite Baroque ensemble is to perform over 12 years all the vocal works of prolific composer JS Bach, sung by top name and rising artists, and conducted by Tom Hammond-Davies. and with soloist, CW favourite male singer of 2023, tenor Nick Pritchard. Expect really beautiful singing in inspiring surroundings.
Read more ...Elektra, Royal Opera House
A very big moment at Covent Garden: the last new production conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano (pictured) before he leaves the Royal Opera House as music director and takes up the reins of the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican. Richard Strauss's strong, short opera based on the Greek myth stars two mighty singers: Nina Stemme and Karina Mattila. Witness a little bit of London musical history in the making.
Read more ...Family Ties: The Schumanns and the Mendelssohns
Ukrainian conductor Natalia Ponomarchuk (pictured) leads the London Philharmonic Orchestra in music connected by birth, friendship and marriage, featuring siblings Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn and husband-and-wife Robert and Clara Schumann. Alexander Melnikov is the piano soloist in an attractive programme that closes with Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No 3, the Scottish.
Read more ...Sean Shibe, LSO St Luke's, lunchtime recital
If you haven't yet heard live the astonishing guitarist Sean Shibe, here is a mesmerising programme of music across the ages, played on both the guitar and the lute. Composers include Poulenc, de Falla, and Thomas Adès, whose Forgotten Dances is given its UK premiere. Thrill to this young virtuoso's incredible technique and melt into the instruments' dreamy sounds. Young guitarists in your household will be impressed too.
Read more ...La Bohème, Royal Opera House
Richard Jones's production of Puccini's romantic and tragic opera has a plausible garret for its struggling artists (singers report banging their heads regularly on the beams), and an eye-popping Quality Street Parisian cafe scene in Act Two. At the heart, the love affair between Mimì and Rodolfo, which falters until Mimì's illness brings them together again, but too late.... Angela Gheorghiu is among sopranos singing Mimì at some of the 13 performances, and look out for Lauren Fagan as saucy Musetta.
Read more ...Rusalka screening, Royal Opera in London cinemas
If you missed the live production at Covent Garden of Dvorak's 'little mermaid' opera, here's a chance to catch a one-off screening at a cinema near you. Latvian soprano Amik Grigorian (pictured) is the water creature with the beautiful voice that she trades for love and life on land. David Butt Philip is the disloyal prince who quickly tires of her. In the two intervals, a look behind the scenes of the Royal Opera House.
The Handmaid's Tale, English National Opera
The opera of Margaret Atwood's chilling tale returns to ENO to open 2024 in its 'greatest hits' season. An all-star cast singing Paul Ruders' score includes Eleanor Dennis, Susan Bickley, Zwakele Tshabalala and Nadine Benjamin (pictured).
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