Contents 16
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FRONT OF HOUSE | Contents
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A R E N S
U W E
‘My childhood in relation to music was extremely heightened, psychedelic almost.’ Simon Keenlyside
D E L R E A L
I E R
J AV
FRONT OF HOUSE 5 EDITORIAL The voices of tomorrow
6 FEEDBACK Readers’ letters, emails and online posts
9-10 NEWS & NOTES Conductor Claudio Abbado dies aged 80 | ENO names new music director | Metropolitan Opera audience figures fall | Novaya Opera makes UK debut | and more…
12 ARTIST OF THE MONTH Former chorister turned baritone Roderick Earle prepares for the title role in Tippett’s King Priam with English Touring Opera
MAIN STAGE 14 COVER FEATURE The British baritone Simon Keenlyside talks about his life’s philosophy, informed by interests ranging from the American musical to zoology
20 LIBIAMO! Opera Now takes a journey through three major regions in the heart of Italy: Emilia Romagna, Marche and Tuscany, brimming with historical and cultural riches,
and renowned for superb gastronomy and classic wines
25 WINE CLUB Take advantage of this month’s special offer on a mixed case of wine from Tuscany, exclusive to readers of Opera Now
27 HOW TO MAKE AN OPERA SINGER Robert Thicknesse explores the talent, skills and personal qualities needed to make it as an opera singer in today’s competitive world
33 BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS As Opera North prepares to stage La bohème with a double cast of young singers, we find out more about the company’s commitment to supporting new talent
35 SOLTI’S ITALIAN LEGACY We visit the annual Georg Solti Accademia in Castiglione, Italy, where the next generation of young singers are put through their paces
36 COMPETITIVE EDGE Opera Now’s pick of the world’s singing competitions in 2014
40 OPERA BLUFF Become an instant expert on Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress
II B
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I A
I LV
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42 INTERMEZZO Lucy Woodruff introduces her series of champagne lecture-recital evenings for opera lovers in London
THE CRITICAL VIEW 46-57 LIVE REVIEWS World premieres: Brokeback Mountain in Madrid, Spiritisti in Budapest | Florence returns to form with a new staging of Nabucco | Opera North and Scottish Opera score hits with Puccini and Donizetti | Focus on France | New productions in Toronto, Brussels and Ghent
MULTIMEDIA 58-59 NEW RELEASES Opera on CD, DVD and Blu-ray
and finds out why shoes can make or break a production…
70 EPILOGUE Opera Now’s cryptic crossword and monthly prize draw for opera lovers
63 68 SPOTLIGHT
Opera Now’s INTERNATIONAL GUIDE to the best live performances this winter
PLUS: Opera on TV, online and in cinemas
COMPETITIONS 70 Win a pair of toppriced tickets to Mozart’s Così fan tutte at English National Opera
BACK STAGE 60 COMPANY PROFILE Palau de les Arts – less than a decade after opening,Valencia’s space-age opera house is a major player on the European opera scene, regularly attracting the world’s leading stars
69 SQUILLO Michael White goes behind the scenes at Covent Garden
COVER:Simon Keenlyside. Photo by Uwe Arens
Opera Now MARCH 2014
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