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Like Water For Chocolate – Royal Ballet Click here for tickets Writer Laura Esquivel’s 1979 novel of passionate and forbidden love was made into a film by Alfonso Arau in 1982 and became the highest-grossing foreign-language film ever released in the United States. Nominated for 14 Ariel Awards (the Mexican Oscars), it won 10 and was selected as the Mexican entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 65th Academy Awards, but didn’t make the nomination list. This Mexican tale comes brilliantly to life with The Royal Ballet. Choreographer Christopher Wheeldon captures the layered richness of Esquivel’s incredible family saga, Like Water for Chocolate. Royal Ballet Principals Francesca Hayward and Marcelino Sambé shine as the star-crossed Tita and Pedro, and composer Joby Talbot’s original score springs to life in the hands of Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra. Full of dramatic energy and magical storytelling this production is a dazzling new contemporary classic. The Art of Singing - Golden Voices of the Century Part One Click here to watch Part Two Click here to watch Click here for Free Trial This is a two-part documentary of and about the great singers of the 20th century. The Art of Singing is a treasure trove of priceless archival footage narrated by actor Christopher Lee, that takes you on a whirlwind tour to meet the greatest singers of the last century—through their golden voices in opera’s most beloved masterpieces, and through their lively personalities off stage. Marvel at the arias you love by Handel, Rossini, Donizetti, and Wagner in the voices of legendary opera stars, who also open up in front of the camera, sharing reflections on their art and memories of their storied careers. In the first volume, the power of the human voice tugs at our heartstrings through astonishing recordings like Mary Garden's mellifluous Mélisande (Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande, 1904) and tenor Beniamino Gigli's interpretation sul fiato (on the breath) of the dramatic aria "Ombra mai fù" from Handel's Serse. In the opera world, the vocal capabilities as well as the characters are larger than life: watch the dazzling Giuseppe De Luca bring an air of mischief to "Largo al factotum" from Rossini's Barber of Seville, while Lawrence Tibbett plays the toreador from Bizet's Carmen with undeniable charisma, no less potent with the passage of time, on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. This second of two volumes opens on an aria from Spanish composer De Falla's La Vida Breve in the heavenly tones of Victoria de los Ángeles, and the hits never stop coming—from the crystalline coloratura of Joan Sutherland, who navigates the highest runs with crystalline ease in Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots, to the smooth legato of Fritz Wunderlich in his impeccable rendition of Tamino's aria, "Dies Bildnis," from The Magic Flute, as well as La Divina herself, Maria Callas, dazzling on stage in the title role of Puccini's Tosca. Yunchan Lim – Chopin and Tchaikowsky Click here to watch I was lucky enough to have been invited to Wigmore Hall’s Gala this month which presented a great selection of musicians and music. Among those participating musicians was the 19-year old Yunchan Lim and Wigmore Hall is making his contribution to the Gala available free for the whole month. Already a prodigious success at various international competitions, Yunchan Lim received the Gold Medal at the 2022 Van Cliburn Competition in Fort Worth at the age of 18 – the youngest ever winner. ‘Lim is a one-in-a-million talent’, wrote the Dallas Morning News, while for jury chair Marin Alsop he is ‘that rare artist who brings profound musicality and prodigious technique organically together.’ The programme is: Tchikowky’s The Seasons Op.37a: March (Song of the Lark)/ May (White Nights)/ June (Barcarolle)/ September (The Hunt)/October (Autumn Song) and Chopin’s Etudes: Etude in E Op. 10 No. 3 Etude in G flat Op. 10 No. 5 Etude in E flat Op. 10 No. 11 Etude in C minor Op. 10 No. 12 Much Ado About Nothing – Tate and Tennant Click here to rent I am often asked which is my favourite Shakespeare comedy and I have to admit that it is this one, Much Ado About Nothing. We’ve seen many versions in recent years, with actors as different as James Earl Jones with Vanessa Redgrave (ugh) and Kenneth Brannagh with Emma Thompson (yum) and at least a dozen others and, with a few obvious mistakes (see first example), I’ve loved them all. Here's the one starring David Tennant as Benedick and Catherine Tate as Beatrice. This production, directed by Josie Rourke, was shot live at Wyndham's Theatre in London’s West End. It played to sold-out houses and received wide critical acclaim. The plot, in case you’ve forgotten, is about a couple, Beatrice and Benedick who are adamant in their mutual dislike, while their friends Claudio and Hero are deep in love, and the two stories take an unexpected course. Sheer bliss. If you don’t want to subscribe to Digital Theatre, you can rent this one play for 48 hours for £7.99. Bring Him Home – Israel Opera Click here to watch I have shamelessly stolen this wonderful short video from SlippedDisc, the classical music newsletter of my friend and colleague Norman Lebrecht, because everyone should see it. It is an appeal to artists across the world to join efforts towards the safe return of all who are held hostage in Gaza. The song is Bring Him Home from Les Miserables and the singers are mezzo Anat Czarny, and baritone Oded Reich, both soloists of the Israel Opera in Tel Aviv.
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AuthorRuth Leon is a writer and critic specialising in music and theatre. Archives
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