Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
I seem to be spending a lot of time at Howard Assembly Room lately, for which I am truly grateful, especially when I get to see some of the country’s, nay world’s, best musicians and singers up close and personal. Such was the case last night when I witnessed a supreme performance by baritone Roderick…
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Whiling away a relaxed hour on a Saturday afternoon at Howard Assembly Room listening to professional opera singers accompanied by only a piano, sounded too good to be true. Sadly it was, but that was a consequence of their doing all they could to make everyone welcome. There was a section on the pertinent website…
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I often wonder why directors feel the need to reimagine the works of arguably this country’s greatest playwright. Is it an arrogance in believing that the bard had the right idea but didn’t do as good a job as they could, is it patronising towards the audience thinking that they need a hand in understanding…
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Getting to the age of 40 is definitely cause for a song and dance, when you are Phoenix Dance Theatre the latter part of that duo is bound to be something special, and it is! I had seen Phoenix Dance Theatre only once before and that was as half of a double bill with Opera…
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It is not often that I cast my net in the direction of Bradford, not because I have anything against the city, I worked there for over twenty-five years, but the West Yorkshire public transport system is such that the last train I could catch to ensure my connection, leaves at 10.16pm which is cutting…
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Apologies to Carly Simon but I couldn’t resist. Carmen, George Bizet’s opera which was staged by Opera North at Leeds Grand Theatre last October, is coming back for a short season. The production is the same although there have been several cast changes. Fortunately the sublime Chrystal E Williams still sings the title role so…
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After seeing Alcina I have decided where I am going for my next holiday, or at least I would have if the island on which the opera was set had been named. It is not my usual target destination being a sparsely populated place with nothing much by way of interest except jungle and beach.…
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This is a review I really wish I didn’t have to write. Not because the concert was bad, far from it, but Thursday, 27th January 2022 was Holocaust Memorial Day which marks the most barbaric event in the history of mankind. If only there had been nothing to remember. Leeds has more reason than most…
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When I first began writing about opera I was advised that the music was great but the plots were a bit far fetched. I have indeed found that to be the case and surely no one can be accused of stretching the bounds of credibility more than Guiseppe Verdi in his opera Rigoletto. The work…
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In view of the timing of recent concerts at Howard Assembly Room I was a bit wary about going to see this event. The American composers night was at Thanksgiving and Solstice on the appropriate day so Quartet for the End of Time seemed to be tempting fate. Fortunately 15th January was the anniversary of…
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Tyke It To The Limit 