Everybody’s favourite street food venue is back and, not only bigger than ever, but reconfigured so as to make the most of the legendary sunny weather which lasts from April to September each year south of the river. On the off chance that there may be a rogue cloudy day, then that has been catered…
Read More
Winter Journey: Roderick Williams and Joseph Middleton at Howard Assembly Room
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…
Read More
Enchanted: Relaxed Concert at Howard Assembly Room
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…
Read More
Macbeth at Leeds Playhouse
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…
Read More
Dudok Quartet Amsterdam at Howard Assembly Room.
The people at Howard Assembly Room have done it again. They have presented a concert which could not be more appropriate but this time more by accident than design. Previous events have been staged so as to be relevant to the time; the American Composers was on Thanksgiving eve, whilst the programme of Jewish composers…
Read More
Jasdeep Singh Degun at Dewsbury Town Hall
On 23rd February, 2020 I was privileged to be invited to the World Premier of Arya, a work by Leeds Sitar player Jasdeep Singh Degun and I was amazed. Not only by the composition, the occasion, and the playing by both Mr Degun and The Orchestra of Opera North, but by the demeanour and humility…
Read More
40 Years of Phoenix at Leeds Playhouse
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…
Read More
The Dresser at Bradford Alhambra
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…
Read More
Carmen Around Again!
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…
Read More
Alcina at Leeds Grand Theatre
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.…
Read More
Tyke It To The Limit 