When you receive an invitation to a concert in a “Viennese salon 1820-1830”, you worry that it won’t be genuine. But when I arrived at Mairie du 9e arrondissement and sat facing a beautiful Rosenberger 1820 piano owned by the Roman pianist Luca Montebugnoli, I suddenly realized how romantic and charming the evening would be. What I could not guess beforehand … Read More
The news of Easter week
The first wonderful surprise of the week was to hear Marina Rebeka in Anna Bolena by Donizetti at Théâtre des Champs Elysées. She replaced at the last minute Sonya Yoncheva who was sick and will sing again next month at the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam. If you are around, make sure to book your ticket. She is just amazing in … Read More
So many things to do in Paris and so little time…
Hofesh Shechter, OBE, the Israeli choreographer whose mother is Ukrainian, had a spectacular première at Opéra Garnier for “Uprising” and “In Your Rooms”, two vibrant ballets created at The Place and Sadler’s Wells in London more than fifteen years ago. They are now both part of the Repertoire of the Paris Opera. Sophie Calle attracted the contemporary art world at … Read More
In London, great excitement makes up for train disruptions
Spending the week end in London was utterly exciting after a three year gap and I was lucky to see both Beatrix Potter‘s show at the V&A and “The Collaboration“, a play featuring Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat at the Young Vic, the best of English acting! I also loved going to Dulwich to visit my goddaughter’s new house … Read More
Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas, a true discovery!
I usually dislike large videos taking over an opera stage but I have to admit that with “Hamlet” by Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896) at Opéra Comique, Cyril Teste has directed a masterpiece and with Louis Langrée‘s great conducting and Stéphane Degout as Hamlet, Sabine Devieilhe as a sexy Ophelia, the evening was overwhelmingly successful. It feels so good to be at … Read More
Four hands at the piano and in real life!
Pianists Prisca Benoit and Mladen Tcholitch have recorded a CD of Mozart’s concertos for two pianos and orchestra K.242 and K.365 with the Salzburg Chamber Soloists conducted by the Brazilian chef Lavard Skou-Larsen. The two pianists have developed a program of four hands pieces which they played in the last five years and they performed a ravishing private concert in … Read More
Two magical artistic moments of the week
Two events fascinated me this week and both are based on talent and sharing. L’Instant Lyrique created eight years ago by Richard Plaza and Sophie de Ségur with Julien Benhamou, is a moment of pure musical intimacy and great fun! American “baritenor” Michael Spyres was giving a recital at Salle Gaveau with pianist Mathieu Pordoy whom I had already heard last … Read More