Burmese Days & Lesson: Thai composer Prach Boondiskulchok's new operas at Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam and La Monnaie / De Munt in Brussels. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/the-...

Storytelling, musicality & musicology: Hugh Cutting, Peter Whelan & Irish Baroque Orchestra in The Trials of Tenducci at Wigmore Hall. My concert review www.planethugill.com/2026/03/stor...

From Sappho to Strozzi to Errollyn Wallen: Nardus Williams, Elizabeth Kenny & Mary Beard's Women and Power at Wigmore Hall. My review: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/from...

A rich feast of poetry, symbolism & mime: The Music Troupe in Edward Lambert's Lorca-inspired In Five Years’ Time at The Croft Hall, Hungerford. Chris de Souza's opera review: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/a-ri...

What a night! Ute Lemper's Berlin Cabaret at Cambridge Corn Exchange with Robert Ziegler, at Cambridge Music Festival with music by Weill, Mischa Spoliansky, Friedrich Holländer, Gershwin. Tony's review: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/not-...

Fun & fresh: flute/voice & guitar duo, Emily Andrews & Francisco Correa talk improvisation & collaboration on their new disc of Stephen Goss's music on Deux Elles. My interview: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/fun-...

February on Planet Hugill: Benvenuto Cellini in Brussels, Peter Grimes in Leeds, Artaserse in Chicago, string quartets in Amsterdam. Via Mailchimp: mailchi.mp/planethugill...

Continuing where Handel left off: Leo Duarte & Opera Settecento's completion of Handel's Titus L'Empereur at London Handel Festival was a terrific showcase for some of the composer's lesser-known arias. My opera review: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/cont...

Applications open for The Cumnock Tryst's 2nd International Summer School for Composers with Sir James MacMillan & Brett Dean. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/appl...

‘Somewhere further North’: has an authentic voice from England’s ‘living centre of music’ survived in Andrew Downes? With the release of his recordings of Downes music on Prima Facie, conductor David Trippett considers the composer's legacy. David's article: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/some...

The Norfolk & Norwich Festival, which evolved from the old Norfolk & Norwich Triennial, blazes a cultural trail for the East Anglian region. Tony's preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/the-...

Double, Double Toil & Trouble: the recorder quartet Palisander explore 900 years of music inspired by the mystical & magical from Hildegard of Bingen to Delyth Field, 2021 winner of NCEM / BBC Radio 3 Young Composer Award. My record review: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/doub...

The Tempest: Vache Baroque collaborates with Out of Chaos theatre company to present a 17th century semi-opera remade. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/the-...

Rossini's William Tell, Andre Previn's Streetcar, Osvaldo Golijov's Ayre and more: Boston Lyric Opera celebrates 50 years. My article www.planethugill.com/2026/03/ross...

Vital, alive & compelling: Handel's Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno from David Bates & La Nuova Musica at Wigmore Hall with Jeanine De Bique, Polly Leech, Christopher Lowrey, Nick Pritchard. My review: www.planethugill.com/2026/03/vita...

Tea for Two - Spring Songs: soprano Caroline Taylor & pianist George Ireland mine unrecorded 19th century song from Musica Britannica for their debut album. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/tea-...

Cheltenham Music Festival's Composer Academy returns with Laura Bowler, George Parris & The Carice Singers. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/chel...

Celebrating in style: current and past City Music Foundation Young Artists in showcase at the restored Great Hall of St Bart's. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/cele...

From a Parisian salon to South America: Julieth Lozano Rolong charms & engages in her Salon Concert for Opera Rara with Anna Tilbrook at Bechstein Hall. My concert review: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/from...

A 365 year old ghost story into a surreal fantasy epic where drums, voice and orchestra collide: Sean Noonan's The Drummer of Tedworth at Milton Court with St Paul's Sinfonia & Darren Bloom. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/a-36...

John Foulds, Edgar Bainton & Alan Rawsthorne premieres at this year's English Music Festival at Dartington Hall for the first time. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/john...

Catching lightning: Solomon's Knot explore George Jefferys & the birth of the English Baroque at Wigmore Hall with text by Federay Holmes featuring James Garnon, Helen Schlesinger. My review: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/catc...

A significant commitment to bringing orchestral music to audiences across North Yorkshire: John Wilson, Sinfonia of London & Ryedale Festival in three-year partnership. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/a-si...

Bringing music & art into a space which belongs to everyone: Olivia Warburton's The Big House Arts Festival at Lincoln Cathedral. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/brin...

One of the few operas by a woman produced at the Paris Opera in the 19th century. Augusta Holmès' La Montagne noire finally gets its UK premiere from the Opera Makers. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/one-...

Keeping it local: David Butt Philip & Friends Gala at St Paul's Opera, Clapham with David Butt Philip, Ellie Laugharne, Niamh O'Sullivan, Liam James Karai, Susanna Stranders & Eric Melear. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/keep...

A busy summer: from touring The Marriage of Figaro directed by Danielle de Niese to recording Iain Farrington's version of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, Wild Arts goes from strength to strength. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/a-bu...

Leonardo Vinci's Artaserse in Chicago: As Haymarket Opera Company releases Vinci's opera on Cedille Records, I chat to founder Craig Trompeter on countering the tendency for audiences to only listen to music that they know. My interview; www.planethugill.com/2026/02/leon...

Farewell to a legendary singer: José van Dam dies at 85. He was the definitive Saint François in Messiaen's opera Saint François d'Assise at Opéra national de Paris and at Salzburger Festspiele | Salzburg Festival. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/fare...

Sonic & dramatic splendour: Jonathan Cohen, Arcangelo & a strong cast including Christopher Purves, Hugh Cutting, & Linard Vrielink, demonstrate the richness to be found in Handel's Saul to open the London Handel Festival. My review: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/soni...

Handel through Mozart’s eyes: Handel Hendrix House offers us a chance to see Mozart studying Handel's music. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/hand...

Britain's longest-established string quartet? Sacconi Quartet celebrates 25 years with the line-up unchanged, with gala at Wigmore Hall featuring Freya Waley-Cohen premiere. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/brit...

Shake Up & Smell the Rain featuring children from Belham Primary school on Alex Paxton's new album, Candyfolk Space Drum on Jonah records. My spotlight: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/shak...

saw this last night - an excellent production. But only 3 performances, and all sold out. Hope ENO will revive it soon.

Epic Theatre? ENO's incoming music director, André de Ridder at the helm for Brecht & Weill's tricky piece of operatic music theatre, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. #ENOMahoganny My review: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/epic...

Sir Alexander Gibson: Scottish Opera, Royal Scottish National Orchestra & Royal Conservatoire of Scotland come together to celebrate his centenary. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/sir-...

Violinist (and media sensation) Esther Abrami celebrates International Women's Day at Institut français in London. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/viol...

A lightness of touch yet shot through with seriousness: a new Marriage of Figaro at Opera North directed by Louisa Muller, conductor Valentina Peleggi with Liam James Karai, James Newby, Hera Hyesang Park, Gabriella Reyes, Frances Gregory. My opera review: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/a-li...

The power of the ordinary: Phyllida Lloyd's wonderful, stripped-back version of Britten's Peter Grime revived at Opera North with a fully rounded performance from John Findon as Grimes & Philippa Boyle as Ellen. My opera review: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/the-...

Up close & personal: Manchester Collective's Sky with the Four Suns with Pärt, Purcell, Britten, Mica Levi, Jasmine Morris, John Luther Adams at St Martin in the Fields. My review: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/sky-...

Tosca in Oxford: Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra launches new opera company with Sir Bryn Terfel as artistic director & Marios Papadopoulos as conductor. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/tosc...

Miracles & Mysteries: the 2026 Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festival with The Tallis Scholars, Pres de votre oreille, The Telling, Pseudonym, Intesa duo, Rune and The Bellot Ensemble. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/mira...

Deidamia, Messiah, 20 years of the festival orchestra: International Handel Festival Göttingen 2026. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/deid...

Alice's Adventures Underground, Puccini's Golden Girls & masterclass with Louise Alder: Opera Holland Park's Opera in Song returns. My preview: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/alic...

Fantastical & surreal: Thaddeus Strassberger's vision of Berlioz' Benvenuto Cellini at La Monnaie / De Munt in Brussels anchored by a heroic performance from tenor John Osborn, conductor Alain Altinoglu. My opera review: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/fant...

Hyperion Records celebrates The Romantic Piano Concerto with two 50 CD boxed sets. 235 works, 185 of them piano concertos, from Moskowski and Paderewski to Reinecke and Sauer and much else besides. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/hype...

In case you missed it - January on Planet Hugill: Pianists in Lucerne, overlooked Elgar, Arensky songs, forgotten Goldmark, Verdi in Florida. My e-newsletter via Mailchimp: mailchi.mp/planethugill...

The vision of a healthier, higher-achieving future: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic's work with In Harmony Liverpool Philharmonic recognised by Association of British Orchestras with their Impact Award. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/the-...

Ethel Smyth's String Trio on Solaire records: Trio d'Iroise draw our focus onto this neglected piece. My record review: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/ethe...

A Child's Dream: pianist Alexandra Dariescu's 10th album, on Signum Classics with Academy of St Martin in the Fields, launched at the Romanian Cultural Institute. My article: www.planethugill.com/2026/02/a-ch...