Category Archives: Cultural Matters

ENDNOTES, January 2020

Endnotes, January 2020 In this edition; Biss plays Beethoven and the BBC Philharmonic performs British tone poems, reviewed by Stuart Millson This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven. Already, orchestras and ensembles across the … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Matters, ENDNOTES:Music, QR Home | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Passing of Traditional Canada

The Passing of Traditional Canada by Mark Wegierski On November 2, 2019, I attended the Annual Alumni Dinner of the University of Toronto Schools (UTS), where I was a pupil for six years between 1973-1979 (Grades 7 and 8, and … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Matters, Current Affairs and Comment, QR Home | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Fathers & Sons, review of La Traviata

Fathers & Sons, review of La Traviata La Traviata, opera in three acts, music by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, conducted by Daniel Oren, directed by Richard Eyre, a further revival of the 1994 production, Royal Opera, 17th … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Matters, QR Home | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

ENDNOTES, December 2019

ENDNOTES, December 2019 Danish and Faroese recorder concertos; piano music from Leipzig, performed by Eleanor Meynell, reviewed by Stuart Millson  Recorded in the Musikkens Hus, Aalborg, Denmark, with an acoustic of all-embracing warmth, yet with the tiniest detail clearly registering, … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Matters, ENDNOTES:Music, QR Home | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Moor is Less

 Moor is Less Otello, dramma lirico in four acts, music by Giuseppe Verdi, libretto by Arrigo Boito, revival of the 2017 production directed by Keith Warner, Royal Opera House, Monday 9 December 2019, reviewed by Leslie Jones In ‘Making Shakespeare … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Matters, QR Home | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Silence is Golden

Silence is Golden Death in Venice, reviewed by Leslie Jones Death in Venice; opera in two acts (17 scenes), music by Benjamin Britten, libretto by Myfanwy Piper after the novella by Thomas Mann, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House and … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Matters, QR Home | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Night Moves

Night Moves Die Zauberflöte, singspiel in two acts; music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House conducted by Leo Hussain, 6th revival of director David McVicar’s 2003 production, revival director Bárbara Lluch, Royal … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Matters, QR Home | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

ENDNOTES, November 2019

Endnotes, November 2019: in this edition, Mozart at a mediaeval church in Kent – and Six Flute Sonatas by Bach, on the OUR label, reviewed by Stuart Millson Vaughan Williams once likened musical life to a great pyramid. At the … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Matters, ENDNOTES:Music, QR Home | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Don Pasquale

Don Pasquale Don Pasquale, dramma buffo in three acts, music by Gaetano Donizetti, libretto by Giovanni Ruffini and Gaetano Donizetti, conducted by Evelino Pidò, directed by Damiano Michieletto, Royal Opera, Monday 14th October 2019, reviewed by Leslie Jones In director … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Matters, QR Home | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

ENDNOTES, October 2019

ENDNOTES, October 2019 Stuart Millson reviews Bach in Kent and a new Berlioz recording from Toronto Bach’s Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 – dating from 1741 – is a work often referred to as one of the greatest achievements in all … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Matters, ENDNOTES:Music, QR Home | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment