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Ottorino Respighi was born OTD in 1879. In the current issue of Gramophone, I explore his colourful score to Belkis, Queen of Sheba gramophone.co.uk/features/artic…

Centuries before The Flight of the Bumblebee, Handel set flies, locusts and even hailstones to music in his splendid escape story Israel in Egypt and I'm singing it w. The Elysian Singers this hot Saturday in the cool of St. Gabriel's, London SW1V 2AD. 7.30pm tickettailor.com/events/theelys…

I saw both casts of Trovatore on successive nights at The Royal Opera. Who impressed? 🎯 Opera Now magazine review: gramophone.co.uk/opera-now/revi…

True elixir … Nicolai Gedda was born in Stockholm 100 years ago today!

To the Barbican Centre this evening for Asmik Grigorian singing Salome with the London Symphony Orchestra. I first saw her in the role at the Salzburg Festival, where she made quite the impression: bachtrack.com/review-salome-…

Today we celebrate the 98th birthday of conductor Herbert Blomstedt. Still active, still touring, still entrancing orchestras and audiences alike. Chapeau, maestro 🫡 📷 © Paul Yates

This year the Aix-en-Provence Festival held a memorial for its general director, Pierre Audi, an innovative arts leader who died in May. nyti.ms/4lGZOD8

Asmik Grigorian: Salome “curtain call” London Symphony Orchestra

Still hot and sweaty after this heady, erotic Salome from a cast lead by Asmik Grigorian with the London Symphony Orchestra bachtrack.com/review-salome-…

Off this afternoon to Fidelio at Garsington Opera, where we've been encouraged to "break with the traditional black tie" due to the heatwave. Not sure I'll go as far as the manacles though... © Julian Guidera On assignment for Opera with Opera News

“Is he self-critical? ‘Well, if I am, I’m terribly nice about it.’” Lovely interview with Quentin Blake Times Culture thetimes.com/culture/books/…

Extraordinary. Once again.

Not sure I’m capable of a more coherent review after that Salome. But ‘Phwoar’ pretty much covers it.

“There was only one possible solution left — and this wasn’t it.” Gee, thanks, Wordle Bot... Wordle 1,486 5/6 ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜🟩🟨 ⬜⬜🟨🟩⬜ 🟩🟩⬜🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Go on, guess the opera director...

In Salome mode, so here's a little essay I penned a few years ago: canzonetta.substack.com/p/essay-straus…