December 1995 Volume 46 No 12

Founded by rhe Earl of Harewood Ediror 1953-86 Harold Rosenrhal, OBE

era

Editor Rodney Milnes Associme Ediror Max Lopper! Assisranr Ediror John Allison Adminisrraror Alice Lindsay Edirorial Board Alan Blyth Hugh Canning Andrew Clark Andrew Clements Richard Fairman Elizabeth Forbes Noel Goodwin Arthur Jacobs Charles Osborne Andrew Porter John Warrack

Editorial Ofjrces la Mountgrove Road London 5 2LU Telephone: 0171-359 1037 Fax: 0171-354 2700

Advertising orders and copy to Jackson-Rudd & Associates (London North East) Ltd 2 Luke Street London EC2A 4NT Tel: 0171-613 0717 Fax: 0171-6131108 Adverrisem enr Manager Brian R. Hook

Front Cover: Anne Howells and Tracey Welborn as Helen and Paris in Scottish Opera·s new ·Be ll e Helene·

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The clouds gather The Editor A beautiful 'Helen' Rodney Milnes People 216: Joan Rodgers Hugh Canning Readers' Letters Learning from Lehar Rodney Milnes Opera ewsdesk Mackerras at 70-Straight from the shoulder Alan Blyth Christopher Keene, 1946-1995 Martin Mayer Opera Around the World: reports from America. Argentina. France. Germany, Hungary. Israel. Italy,

ethe rlands, South Africa. Spain. Sweden, Switzerland

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COMING EVENTS SUPPLEMENT including plans for the UK houses, Lyon. Athens, Tel Aviv, Catania, Rome. Barcelona: 'We hear that ... ': Opera calendar home and abroad Opera books British Opera Diary: 'Les Pecheurs de perles' and 'Jenufa' at Opera North: E O's 'Cos!'. 'Rusalka' and 'The Fairy Queen': 'Gbtterdammerung' at Covent Garden: 'Idomeneo' in Cardiff: ETO's 'Werther' and 'The Barber of Seville': GTO·s 'Owen Wingrave'. "La Boheme· and 'Don Giovanni·: The Kirov's 'Prince Igor' at the Royal Albert Hall 1490 Opera on the fringe 1492 Opera in concert 1493 Opera on disc 1502 Classified advertisements

(Photo: Bill Cooper)