Reviews
Tiffin Youth Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, Jurowski, RFH review - perfect detachment suits public statements
Monday, 20 January 2025
When Vladimir Jurowski planned this typically unorthodox programme, he could not have known that a disaster even greater, long-term, than 9/11 was going to befall the USA two days after the concert. There is no bad time for a tricky commemoration of the World Trade Center attacks, but close to a presidential inauguration would have been right whatever the outcome. As for an 18th century “Mass in Time of War”, clearly Ukraine and Gaza would still be on the agenda.
Kyoto, Soho Place Theatre - blistering, darkly witty play raises more questions than it answers
Monday, 20 January 2025
It took a while for journalists to identify the chain-smoking, Machiavellian figure who was a permanent presence at early international gatherings to hammer out a strategy on climate change.
A Good House, Royal Court review - provocative,...
Monday, 20 January 2025
Most Brits don’t know much about South Africa today, but we do know about house values, so this new comedy by South African playwright and...
Ben Elton, Duke of York's Theatre review -...
Monday, 20 January 2025
Ben Elton loves a scrap. The Motormouth of yesteryear, who made his name attacking Margaret Thatcher and her policies (and being attacked by the...
Music Reissues Weekly: The Twilights - Twilights...
Sunday, 19 January 2025
On 26 September 1966, The Twilights set-off from Australia to Britain. The journey, on the liner the Castel Felice, took six weeks. A day after...
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Sun Rings, Sacconi Quartet, Festival Voices, Kings Place review - lift-off for an exhilarating voyage into the unknown
A suitably radiant interpretation of a Terry Riley epic |
A Complete Unknown review - how does it feel?
Timothée Chalamet brings it all back home as Bob Dylan |
Love Life, Opera North review - Lerner and Weill's blast into the past
Time-travelling tale of love and despair - the first 'concept musical' revived |
Vermiglio review - a simple tale, simply but beautifully told
Maura Delpero’s award-winner salutes the world of her childhood as it ebbs away |
Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, Dudamel, Barbican review - an epic journey from gossamer-like intimacy to apocalyptic rage
An orchestra on top form in Mahler's Third Symphony despite swirling controversies |
Jenůfa, Royal Opera review - electrifying details undermined by dead space
Knife-edge conducting and singing, but non-realistic production is weaker in revival |
German National Orchestra, Marshall, Cadogan Hall review - sheer youthful exuberance
Teenagers on tour bring effusive music-making |
Chris McCausland, Winchester Theatre Royal review - Strictly winner as cheerfully cynical as ever
Back to the day job telling gags |
Album: The Weather Station - Humanhood
Canadian singer-songwriter makes sense of a period of crisis |
Oliver!, Gielgud Theatre review - Lionel Bart's 1960 masterpiece is Bourne again
An intimate staging and superb casting make this a superior West End production |
What's the Matter with Tony Slattery?, BBC Two review - absorbing but troubling search for answers
RIP TONY SLATTERY How mental illness cut short a brilliant showbusiness career |
Leif Ove Andsnes, Wigmore Hall review - colour and courage, from Hardanger to Majorca
Bold and bracing pianism in favourite Chopin and a buried Norwegian treasure |
American Primeval, Netflix review - nightmare on the Wild Frontier
Peter Berg's Western drama is grim but gripping |
Chamayou, BBC Philharmonic, Wigglesworth, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester review - Boulez with bonbons
Assurance and sympathy from Mark Wigglesworth for differing French idioms |
The Maids, Jermyn Street Theatre review - new broom sweeps clean in fierce revival
Class, in its 21st century manifestation, colours much performed play |
Gala Preview Show, De Montfort Hall review - Leicester Comedy Festival nicely teed up
Europe's biggest comedy festival opens next month |
The Second Act review - absurdist meta comedy about stardom
French A-listers puncture their profession in a hall of mirrors |
Music Reissues Weekly: Celebrate Yourself! The Sonic Cathedral Story 2004-2024
With the help of a sympathetic label, shoegazing once again confirms its resonance |
Maria review - Pablo Larraín's haunting portrait of an opera legend
Angelina Jolie puts body and soul into her portrayal of Maria Callas |
Titanique, Criterion Theatre review - musical parody sinks despite super singing
Affectionate piss-take set for cult status at best |
Babygirl review - would-be steamy drama that only flirts with transgression
Nicole Kidman gets hot and bothered about a sexy intern’s power plays |
It's Raining Men review - frothy French comedy avoids dating-app reality
Laure Calamy shines as a dentist whose marriage is in trouble |
Album: Bridget Hayden and The Apparitions - Cold Blows The Rain
Classic folk songs are given a desolate new setting |
A Real Pain review - Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin take a Holocaust tour of Poland
It's part comedy, part road movie and part psychotherapy session |
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It followed some...
Tiffin Youth Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus...
When Vladimir Jurowski planned this typically unorthodox programme, he could not have known that a disaster even greater, long-term, than 9/11 was...
David Lynch: In Dreams (1946-2025)
David Lynch’s final two features mapped a haunted Hollywood of curdled innocence and back-alley eeriness. Mulholland Drive (2001) seemed...
Kyoto, Soho Place Theatre - blistering, darkly witty play ra...
It took a while for journalists to identify the chain-smoking, Machiavellian figure who was a permanent presence at early international gatherings...
A Good House, Royal Court review - provocative, but imperfec...
Most Brits don’t know much about South Africa today, but we do know about house values, so this new comedy by South African playwright and...
Ben Elton, Duke of York's Theatre review - big subjects...
Ben Elton loves a scrap. The Motormouth of yesteryear, who made his name attacking Margaret Thatcher and her policies (and being attacked by the...
Album: Mary Chapin Carpenter, Julie Fowlis & Karine Polw...
It’s been five years since the last studio album by the inestimable Mary Chapin Carpenter, the lyrical and intimate The Dirt and the Stars...
Music Reissues Weekly: The Twilights - Twilights Time The Co...
On 26 September 1966, The Twilights set-off from Australia to Britain. The journey, on the liner the Castel Felice, took six weeks. A day after...
Sun Rings, Sacconi Quartet, Festival Voices, Kings Place rev...
What better way to start a season...
Album: Larkin Poe - Bloom
The Lovell sisters Rebecca and Megan can be heard supporting Ringo Starr on his new album of country songs, while at the same time their seventh...