My big sister and I usually spend a week together in January in London while the Englishman goes away skiing. But this year, Big Sis suggested we'd also go away. 'To somewhere where there's a chance of sunshine. Not that I don't like London,' she continued, 'but we've seen it now, haven't we?' … [Read more...]
My favourite opera: Tosca by Giacomo Puccini
I cannot even remember the first time I saw Tosca on stage – but I do remember the first time I heard Maria Callas sing Vissi D’arte, my very favourite aria. My mother loves Callas and has several of her records (vinyls!). When my sister and I were younger, we’d often make a show of putting our … [Read more...]
La Boheme at Soho Theatre
Image from londonist.comI have to admit I was worried about the young and updated production of La Boheme. For some reason this opera by Puccini gets the most amount of abuse in the hands of modernisers. I guess it's because the story of the opera is easy to adopt to modern life; a love … [Read more...]