Novemb er 2010 Vo lume 61 No 11 Editor John Allison Deputy Editor Erica Jeal (on leave) Assistant Editor Kate Molleson Subscription Manager Megan Jackson Publishing Manager Andrew Miles Editorial Board Martin Bernheimer Hugh Canni ng Rupert Christ ianse n Andrew Clark Andrew Clem ents Richa rd Fairm an George Hall Michael Kennedy Fiona Maddock s Rodney Milnes (Chairman) Roger Parker Andrew Porter Editorial Offices 36 Black Lion Lane London W6 9BE Te lephone: 020 8563 8893 Fax: 020 8563 8635 e-mail: editor@opera.co .uk We bsite: www .opera.co.uk Subscripti ons Te lephone: 020 8748 091 1 e-mail: operasubs @opera.co.uk Adverti sing Jane Stoggl es Cabbell Publishing Ltd Te lephone: 020 8971 8450 Fax: 020 8971 8480 Fr ont cover: Alastair Miles and Iestyn Davie s in ‘Niobe ’ at the ROH (see pp. 1422-4) (photo: The Royal Opera/Bill Cooper)

1331 L ittle shop of operas

By the Editor 1332 Readers’ letters 1333 Melancholy muse

Michael Fend salutes Cherubini on the 250th anniversary of his birth 1341 Newsdesk 1346 Underground opera

Anne Sebba on the story of the Cook sisters 1354 Opera around the world 1401 Opera in Britain 1424 Opera on television 1426 Opera on CD 1434 Opera on DVD 1439 Opera books 1443 Coming events including plans for the UK houses, Lisbon, Maastricht, Prague; ‘We hear that …’; Opera calendar home and abroad 1455 Classified advertisements 1456 Wi sh I’d been there …

Warren Keith Wright

Opera, November 2010

1329