Since before Christmas theartsdesk has been reviewing the past decade and previewing the year to come in the arts. As an extra we offer this special edition of The Seckerson Tapes, in which Edward Seckerson and Igor Toronyi-Lalic discuss the year in music, which, in the concert hall, saw the triumph of the new romantics in conductors Riccardo Chailly and Yannick Nezet-Seguin and, operatically, saw the arrival of three penetrating new productions of operatic classics: the English National Opera's Peter Grimes, Covent Garden's Tristan und Isolde and Glyndebourne's Rusalka.
reviews, news & interviews
The Seckerson Tapes: Edward and Igor look back at 2009
Our classical music writers look back in conversation
Nina Stemme gives a career-defining performance as Isolde at Covent Garden in Autumn 2009
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more opera
Laurent Pelly's production proves you can have a great cast yet fail them as characters
A magnificent cast manages to master Gerald Barry's Wilde and act their crazy socks off
Two tales of magic and mystery - as TV reality show and environmental parable
Quality take on Verdi and a pure comedy re-imagining of Léhar
Turbocharged orchestra, sometimes too much so, various approaches from the singers
Richard Jones tries hard with Bellini's vehicle for lyric madness; Lisette Oropesa dazzles
Britten's dark ship of life and death sails on
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William Kentridge's vision subtly blends his political experiences with mythology
Fine music-making illuminates Debussy's sinister blend of realism and romance
In concert, Mozart's farewell opera burns bright
Not much to look at, good on the ear
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