The second of six programmes brought to London by the Mariinsky was a triple bill of Mikhail Fokine's choreography: Chopiniana, The Firebird and Scheherazade. The Times explained the programming: In … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Homage to Fokine
Guardian
Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Swan Lake
The Mariinsky kicked off their 3-week stay at the Royal Opera House with Swan Lake. An obvious, and right, choice, Immutable is the Mariinsky’s root foundation in classical tradition. Everything they … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Mariinsky at Covent Garden, Swan Lake
Vasiliev ‘lays his pain on the line’ as Le Jeune Homme, writes Luke Jennings
Vasiliev, his eyes wild and his muscled body quivering with barely controlled rage, compels the attention from the first. His physical acting is huge and raw, his expressions silent-era cinematic. And … [Read more...] about Vasiliev ‘lays his pain on the line’ as Le Jeune Homme, writes Luke Jennings
Critics’ Roundup: the Mariinsky in London, Swan Lake
In a splattering of mainly four and five-star reviews it was, perhaps surprisingly, the Financial Times's Clement Crisp, maybe the hardest critic to please, who showered compliments over the company … [Read more...] about Critics’ Roundup: the Mariinsky in London, Swan Lake
Critics round-up: Romeo & Juliet… Osipova, Vasiliev, Lendorf & Ashton
Her Osipova's Juliet starts out as a hyper teenager, whirling on brilliantly fast feet. There's an immediate abandon to her dancing, movement sweeping through her small frame. As an actress, she … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Romeo & Juliet… Osipova, Vasiliev, Lendorf & Ashton
Opera North’s Beached goes on: “The good news is that it happened at all”
The Lee Hall/Opera North community opera has finally had its showing. The Guardian, commented on the viral storm that surrounded it: Though there are traces of Britten in the score, it's not the … [Read more...] about Opera North’s Beached goes on: “The good news is that it happened at all”
Critics round-up: Sylvie Guillem at Sadler’s Wells – “Dancers have a cruelly curt use-by date. They’re better fresh. Or are they?”
She's done it again, and everyone's delighted that Guillem still has the possibility to enchant, astonish and all those other adjectives that the press have been hurling around in the last 24 hours. … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Sylvie Guillem at Sadler’s Wells – “Dancers have a cruelly curt use-by date. They’re better fresh. Or are they?”
Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel, The Stranger’s Child: “an extraordinary achievement”
Lovers of Hollinghurst's writing have been waiting a long time for the end of June 2011 and the publication of his new novel. In fact, the wait has been seven years, but now we know that it was worth … [Read more...] about Alan Hollinghurst’s new novel, The Stranger’s Child: “an extraordinary achievement”
Critics round-up: Richard III with Kevin Spacey
Well the critics loved much, if not all, of the Bridge Project's much anticipated swan song production of Richard III with Kevin Spacey. The production is now at London's Old Vic theatre before going … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Richard III with Kevin Spacey
Daniel Barenboim at the Wigmore Hall: ‘an interpretation that reached for the stars and at times touched them’
The hush was devout, the expectation electrifying. Daniel Barenboim playing at the Wiggy! Not for 40 years has it been possible to write that. If Salome had suddenly appeared, plus veils, to dance at … [Read more...] about Daniel Barenboim at the Wigmore Hall: ‘an interpretation that reached for the stars and at times touched them’
Critics round-up: Shrek The Musical opens in London
Shrek The Musical has opened in London's West End and seems to have generally won over the nation's critics. It's New York run wasn't a runaway success and producers must have been a little nervous on … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Shrek The Musical opens in London
Critics round-up: Strictly Gershwin with the English National Ballet at London’s Royal Albert Hall
Difficult-to-please Clement Crisp gives a four-star crit for the English National Ballet's dance show "Strictly Gershwin": For this show is jolly, welcoming, coasting along on tunes that everyone … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Strictly Gershwin with the English National Ballet at London’s Royal Albert Hall
Simon Keenlyside is “singing on the top of his form” or has a “tendency to shout tonelessly”?
Simon Keenlyside's British début as Macbeth at The Royal Opera House has both bemused and wowed the critics. After the live relay we can all have our say, but here is a smattering of divided opinion … [Read more...] about Simon Keenlyside is “singing on the top of his form” or has a “tendency to shout tonelessly”?
Critics round-up: Royal Ballet Triple Bill – Scènes de ballet – Voluntaries – Rite of Spring
"Whether you regard the triple bill as an evening of highlights or an insubstantial pageant depends on the programme," - says the Daily Express, before going on to review the Royal Ballet's latest … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Royal Ballet Triple Bill – Scènes de ballet – Voluntaries – Rite of Spring
Critics round-up: Ballo della regina (Balanchine) – Live Fire Exercise (Wayne McGregor) – Danse à grande vitesse (Christopher Wheeldon)
The Royal Ballet's new triple bill brings two new pieces: Balanchine's Ballo della Regina, and a new creation by Wayne McGregor called Live Fire Exercise. The critics were almost all in agreement … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Ballo della regina (Balanchine) – Live Fire Exercise (Wayne McGregor) – Danse à grande vitesse (Christopher Wheeldon)
Gilliam’s The Damnation of Faust at London Coliseum convinces the critics
After months of complaining (by critics and audience) that too many famous film or television directors were being let loose on the ENO stage with often disastrous results, it seems that the latest in … [Read more...] about Gilliam’s The Damnation of Faust at London Coliseum convinces the critics
Patrice Chéreau on English actors, the theatre, and his homosexuality
The Guardian went to meet Patrice Chéreau who is in London to rehearse the first play he has ever directed in the UK. It's a coup for the Young Vic. The play he is rehearsing is I Am The Wind, a … [Read more...] about Patrice Chéreau on English actors, the theatre, and his homosexuality
Critics round-up: Betty Blue Eyes – A pig takes over the West End as Cameron Mackintosh brings home the bacon
Cameron Mackintosh hasn't lost his magic touch, and after 10 years without a new musical he's come up with Betty Blue Eyes which has delighted the critics. It's a musical about a pig, the animal kind, … [Read more...] about Critics round-up: Betty Blue Eyes – A pig takes over the West End as Cameron Mackintosh brings home the bacon
The Guardian says: vote for ballet… online
The question that the newspaper is asking is: "A row has erupted over whether Natalie Portman danced most of her ballet scenes in Black Swan. Does it matter whether it was her or 'ballet double' … [Read more...] about The Guardian says: vote for ballet… online
Critics Roundup: South Park creators’ musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ triumphs on Broadway
It looks as though everyone got the joke after all. Even in Utah, it seems, with no damning articles or negative reviews. Time reports: “I was prepared for scatological humor, generous doses of the … [Read more...] about Critics Roundup: South Park creators’ musical ‘The Book of Mormon’ triumphs on Broadway
So it’s not The Most Incredible Thing after all
British pop duo the Pet Shop Boys have unveiled their first ballet score, a dance work based on the Hans Christian Andersen story The Most Incredible Thing. It is a fairytale about a ruler who offers … [Read more...] about So it’s not The Most Incredible Thing after all
Elizabeth Taylor: selection from a life… what today’s press has been saying, her best films and her changing look
Today's press A London-born beauty who never lost her clipped, clean way of speaking, Ms. Taylor possessed vivid features known to three generations of filmgoers: Raven hair, dark eyebrows, ivory … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Taylor: selection from a life… what today’s press has been saying, her best films and her changing look
Steven McRae ignites the Covent Garden stage
The Times review opens with, Frederick Ashton’s Rhapsody, the opening salvo of the Royal Ballet’s latest triple bill, was created in 1980 to mark the 80th birthday of the Queen Mother. It was also … [Read more...] about Steven McRae ignites the Covent Garden stage
Lost 450-year-old mass rockets up the British charts
A sumptuous first recording of a long-lost 450-year-old Italian Renaissance mass written for 40 different vocal parts has soared onto British pop charts a week after its release. The recording by … [Read more...] about Lost 450-year-old mass rockets up the British charts
3-D has rarely seemed as gimmicky as in “Carmen in 3D’’
We're promised "the best seat in the house" but that turns out to be a wheelchair moving around six feet in front of the performers and rarely straying beyond the proscenium. Furthermore, this … [Read more...] about 3-D has rarely seemed as gimmicky as in “Carmen in 3D’’
First reviews are out of Wheeldon’s Alice at the Royal Ballet
Neil Norman for The Daily Express has no doubt: I predict that Christopher Wheeldon’s triumphant production of Lewis Carroll’s immortal classic will become the must-see ballet for children and adults … [Read more...] about First reviews are out of Wheeldon’s Alice at the Royal Ballet
Joyce DiDonato’s new CD “Diva, Divo” celebrates the vast and fabulous world of the mezzo-soprano
As the blurb succinctly puts it, "This new collection showcases DiDonato’s multi-faceted art – and the wealth of opportunities open to a mezzo-soprano – by presenting her as different characters, both … [Read more...] about Joyce DiDonato’s new CD “Diva, Divo” celebrates the vast and fabulous world of the mezzo-soprano
My first classical concert left me gobsmacked, says Lucy Jones, Assistant Comment Editor at The Telegraph
Stephen Hough - one of my favourite pianists - still isn't a household name, yet reviews for his concerts and discs continue to rake in the best reviews around. If you don't know him yet, rush to … [Read more...] about My first classical concert left me gobsmacked, says Lucy Jones, Assistant Comment Editor at The Telegraph
Sergei Polunin triumphs in Giselle at the Royal Opera House
Judith Mackrell in The Guardian finds much to praise in 21-year-old Sergei Polunin's Albrecht: Physically, Polunin could not be more ideal for the role. With his wide poet's forehead, slender build … [Read more...] about Sergei Polunin triumphs in Giselle at the Royal Opera House
Nureyev knows the value of a stage kiss – Romeo and Juliet at the English National Ballet
The Guardian's Sanjoy Roy ioffers the most positive criticism of the English National Ballet's Romeo and Juliet: Rudolf Nureyev's version of Romeo and Juliet – restaged by English National Ballet, … [Read more...] about Nureyev knows the value of a stage kiss – Romeo and Juliet at the English National Ballet
