February 1980

Vol 31 No 2

Founded by the Earl of Harewood

Editor

HAROLD ROSENTHAL

Associate Editors Alan Blyth, Rodney Milnes Editorial Board Elizabeth Forbes, Arthur Jacobs, Max Loppert,

William Mann, Charles Osborne, Andrew Porter, Desmond Shawe-Taylor, John Warrack

Personal Assistant to the Editor Deidre Tilley Editorial Offices: 6 Woodfa11d Rise, Lo11don N JO 3UH

In the News The aivete of Verdi by Isaiah Berlin Opera's 30th Birthday Singing Competitions The Hungarian opera scene by Iran Kertesz Book Reviews

126 128 136 ]37 ]3 8 144

Readers' Letters

146

Our Critics Abroad : reports from America, Canada, France, Germany, Ital y 150

COMING EVE TS - SUPPLEME T including plans for ew York City Opera, Opera du Rhin , Turin , Venice; 'We hear that ... '; Opera Calendar 153- 162

Gramophone Record

0 bituary

British Opera Diary: in cl uding re ie ws of 'Cosi fan tutte' and 'Die Fledermaus' at Covent Garden ; 'Juliu s Caesar' and 'A ight in Venice' at the Coliseum; the Welsh National Opera·s London season; a nd the E 0

orth's ·Merry Widow '

Classified advertisement

163

168

189

207

Front cover: Valerie Masterson and Janet Baker in 'Julius Caesar' at th e London Coliseum