December 1999 Volume 50 No 12

Founded by the Earl of Harewood Editor 1953-86 Harold Rosenthal, OBE

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Editor Rodney Milnes Co-Editor John Allison Marketing Director Alice Lindsay Editorial Assistant Stefanie BrUggemann Editorial Board Martin Bernheimer Alan Blyth Ian Brunskill Andrew Clark Andrew Clements Richard Fairman oel Goodwin Michael Kennedy Fiona Maddock Charles Osborne Andrew Porter John Warrack

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Editorial Offices la Mountgrove Road London 52LU Telephone: 0171 359 1037 Fax: 0171 354 2700 e-mail: operamag@clara.co.uk WEBSITE: http://www.opera.co. uk

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Adverti ing orders and copy to Catherine Hawkins Cabbell Publi rung Ltd 31 Hartfield Crescent London SW19 3SG Tel: 0181 395 3808 Fax: 0181 395 3999

Front Cover: The Royal Opera House (Photo: Rob Moore)

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Ring in the new By the Editor An American in London Michael Kaiser talks to John Allison Take your seats, please Marcus Binney tours the Opera House 'Another opening, another how' John A llison at the Liceu Opera Newsdesk People 258: Bryn Terfel Hilary Finch Readers' Letter 'Le Theatre chez oi' Alan Blyth Opera at 50 Obituary Opera Around the World: report from America, Argentina, Au tria , Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, ew Zealand, Ru sia, Sweden, Switzerland COMI G EVE TS SUPPLEM T including plans for the UK houses; Parma, Stockholm, Bayreuth, Bregenz; 'We hear that ... '; Opera ca lendar home and abroad Opera on di c British Opera Diary: 'Orfeo' and 'Figaro' at the o li eum; 'Katya Kabanova' and 'Don Giovanni' at Opera orth; Engli h Touring Opera's 'Carmen' and 'Macbeth'; Glyndebourne Touring Opera's 'La clemenza di Tito' and 'The Bartered Bride' Opera on the fringe In concert At the cinema Opera books Cla ified adverti ement I can't live without ... curtain ca lls Rupert Chri Lian en