The week in classical: Double Bryn Terfel; Siwan Rhys; Bozzini Quartet; My Beloved Man – review
A highlight of this summer’s country house opera season shows how these tireless and inventive festivals are vital to the UK’s classical music scene.
March 2024
The week in classical: LSO/ Rattle; The Rake’s Progress; The Flying Dutchman; Elena Urioste and Tom Poster – review
The Flying Dutchman review – Terfel still owns this role, and Elisabet Strid’s Senta soars
February 2024
Home listening
Classical home listening: Bryn Terfel: Sea Songs; Anastasia Kobekina: Venice
The bass-baritone sets sail on a voyage of high drama and superb diction, while the Russian cellist channels the Italian city via Barbara Strozzi and Brian Eno
May 2023
Coronation Concert review – a cobbled-together bunch of B-listers
With all respect to Olly Murs and Nicole Scherzinger, true star power was lacking at this well-performed celebration for King Charles III – drones and Muppets were the highlights instead
March 2023
Gianni Schicchi review – Bryn Terfel on fine fraudulent form in Puccini’s dark comedy
Terfel leads a talented young cast and Domingo Hindoyan conducts the RLPO with wit and passion in a performance where no one puts a foot wrong
September 2021
The week in classical: RPO/ Petrenko; Esther Woo and Yekwon Sunwoo – review
Vasily Petrenko takes over at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra – and pumps up the volume. And a new violin-piano duo make their mark
June 2021
The week in classical: Falstaff; Hallé; Leipzig BachFest; Dunster festival – review
Trademark high spirits and a genial Falstaff kick off Grange Park Opera’s summer season. Plus online treasures great and small
With works by Bach, Gerald Finzi and Ivor Novello – plus a warming Christmas carol – this concert confirmed music’s power to console in troubled times
April 2020
Lockdown culture
New York Metropolitan Opera hosts starry lockdown gala
Jonas Kaufmann, Anna Netrebko, Bryn Terfel and Renée Fleming join the company’s ambitious pan-continental living-room soiree
October 2019
The week in classical: Don Pasquale; Rigoletto; Zauberland – review
Don Pasquale review – Bryn Terfel softens Donizetti's hard edges
June 2019
The week in classical: Tosca; Orchestra of Santa Cecilia/Pappano; Igor Levit – review
Bryn Terfel’s terrifying Scarpia is the main draw in the Royal Opera’s latest Tosca. Elsewhere, Igor Levit is in total command
December 2018
Life on a plate
Bryn Terfel: ‘All conductors like Italian food. It’s ingrained’
The opera singer on Plácido Domingo’s cookbooks and what to eat to survive Wagner
July 2018
The week in classical: Falstaff; The Skating Rink; Pushkin – review
Culture webchats
Bryn Terfel on wine, Wagner and song
November 2017
Falstaff review – Bryn Terfel brings warmth and nuance to RLPO's brilliance
Veteran Falstaff Bryn Terfel and a splendid cast made this concert staging of Verdi’s final opera a joyous experience
March 2017
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg review – Kasper Holten stages elaborate farewell
The director throws everything and Bryn Terfel at a vivid Covent Garden finale, set in a gilded gentlemen’s club of song, that sometimes sits at odds with the drama
January 2017
Unmissable culture of 2017
All life is here: the must-see classical performances of 2017
BBCNOW celebrates modern musical pioneers, there’s a rare chance to taste Birtwistle’s Last Supper – and the LPO explores what it means to be human
December 2016
New Year honours list: arise Sir Mark Rylance
Oscar-winning actor is knighted while Patricia Routledge and Kinks singer Ray Davies are among artists honoured
