February 1977

Vol 28 No 2

Founded by the Earl of Harewood

Editor

HAROLD ROSE THAL

Associate Editors Alan Blyth, Rodney Milnes Editorial Board Elizabeth Forbes, Arthur Jacobs, William Mann,

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

Personal Assistant to the Editor Deidre Tilley Editorial Offices: 6 Woodland Rise, London NJO 3UH

Britten's Operas by Lord Harewood Britten's 'Dramatic' Legacy by Donald Mitchell Working with Britten by Colin Graham Recalling 'Peter Grimes' by Joan Cross A Conductor Remembers by Sir Georg Solti Obituary 'Der Freischi.itz' in J 977 by Gatz Friedrich Readers' Letters Hamilton's 'Royal Hunt' by Noel Goodwin

J24 127 130 137 139 141 142 148 149

COMING EVENTS SUPPLEMENT including plans for Welsh National Opera, New York, Paris, Mannheim, Bologna, Naples; Aix, Salzburg and Verona Festivals; 'We hear that ... '; Opera Calendar Gramophone Records Singing Competitions 1977 In the News Our Critics Abroad: Reports from France, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Italy London Opera Diary including reviews of 'Ariadne auf Naxos', 'La Boheme' and 'L'elisir d'amore' at Covent Garden ; 'A Night in Venice' at the Coliseum In Scotland Student Performances In Concert On Television Classified advertisements

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166 170 17 J

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Front cover: Ileana Cotrubas as Adina in 'L'elisir d'amore at Covent Garden