Category Archives: Cultural Matters

Bad Lieutenant

Posted on April 3, 2017 by leslie

Bad Lieutenant “He dies with honour, who cannot live with honour” Madama Butterfly, music composed by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, conducted by Antonio Pappano, the Royal Opera, Thursday 30th March 2017, reviewed by Leslie Jones … Continue reading →

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Dissecting Human Passions

Posted on March 21, 2017 by leslie

Dissecting Human Passions Written on Skin, Royal Opera House, January 13th 2017, music composed by George Benjamin, text by Martin Crimp, directed by Katie Mitchell, reviewed by Alessandro Zummo Written on Skin comes from a close collaboration between the stage … Continue reading →

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Norfolk and Norwich Chamber Music

Posted on March 18, 2017 by leslie

Norfolk and Norwich Chamber Music Cédric Tiberghien / CBSO Soloists, John Innes Centre, Colney, Norwich, March 2017, reviewed by Tony Cooper Peppered throughout Norfolk & Norwich Chamber Music seasons over the past few years has been a highly-successful series of … Continue reading →

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Mark my Words

Posted on March 15, 2017 by leslie

Mark my Words Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, libretto and score by Richard Wagner, Royal Opera House, 13th March 2017, directed by Kasper Holten, orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano, reviewed by Leslie Jones This new production of Meistersinger, by departing … Continue reading →

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ENDNOTES, 13th March 2017

Posted on March 13, 2017 by leslie

Endnotes, 13th March 2017 In this edition: Now Comes Beauty, from EM Records; Vaughan Williams from Norway, reviewed by Stuart Millson; Concert at St John’s, March 1st 2017, reviewed by Leslie Jones With the English Music Festival (May Bank Holiday, … Continue reading →

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Carducci String Quartet

Posted on February 23, 2017 by leslie

Carducci String Quartet Carducci String Quartet; John Innes Centre, Colney, Norwich, February 2017. Reviewed by Tony Cooper Norfolk & Norwich Chamber Music pulled off a major coup by commissioning London-born composer, Kemal Yusuf, to write a piece for the Carducci … Continue reading →

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Rigoletto, reloaded

Posted on February 8, 2017 by leslie

Rigoletto, reloaded Rigoletto, opera by Giuseppe Verdi, based on the play Le roi s’amuse by Victor Hugo, director Jonathan Miller, revival director Elaine Taylor-Hall, conductor Sir Richard Armstrong, ENO, 2nd February 2017, reviewed by Leslie Jones Guiseppe Verdi was unquestionably … Continue reading →

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La Traviata (encore)

Posted on January 22, 2017 by leslie

La Traviata (encore) Here, where men sit and hear each other groan; Where palsy shakes a few, sad, last grey hairs, Where youth grows pale, and spectre-thin, and dies; Where but to think is to be full of sorrow And … Continue reading →

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When the Chips are Down

Posted on December 19, 2016 by leslie

When the Chips are Down Stoddard Martin reviews a timely tome NINE LOVE LETTERS, by Gerald Jacobs. Quartet Books, £20 We are living through a neo-expressionistic, intolerant era. Famous lines come to mind: “The best lack all conviction, while the … Continue reading →

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Border Stories

Posted on December 11, 2016 by leslie

Border Stories Bill Hartley is down Mexico way The geography of violence can remain constant over very long periods. For example, the Texas-Mexico border country was and remains a violent place. There are towns in Texas with populations the size … Continue reading →

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