Massenet’s lush, romantic setting of the time-honoured French tale of Manon is given a lavish treatment in this sumptuous yet stylish production. The journey of impetuous anti-heroine Manon from rags to riches […]
The Royal Opera: Manon review
The Bodyguard musical review
Another flashy West End crowd pleaser, The Bodyguard demonstrates the fact that London music theatre does not have the award-focused obsession that Broadway does when creating new works. There Is nothing like […]
The Commitments musical review
Bursting with energy, character, hits and humour, new musical The Commitments is fully deserving of the great success that comes when a terrific musical idea is expertly and lovingly realised. Technically a […]
The Royal Opera: Carmen review
With its spoken dialogue, scores of children, animals and dancers, and rich, authentically Spanish setting, director Francesca Zambello’s creative but traditional production of perennial favourite Carmen is a true crowd-pleaser. Action, dance […]
Menier Chocolate Factory: Candide review
Wildly inventive, joyfully humorous and unfailingly energetic, music theatre goldmine Menier Chocolate Factory provides boundless entertainment in this best of all possible productions of Candide. Director Matthew White has not only presided […]
Tell Me on a Sunday 2014 review
Thoroughly disproving the old adage “you can’t go home again,” UK music theatre legend Marti Webb, now a sprightly, sunny 69, returns to the stage in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic song cycle […]
Bayerische Staatsoper: Eugene Onegin review
This most famous Russian opera receives a curiously tawdry, emotionally stilted treatment at Bavarian State Opera. Transplanted to a winter sports lounge in the swinging ’60s, the morals and traditions of the […]
Bayerische Staatsoper: La Traviata review
Regular readers may well be aware that Man in Chair could easily watch La Traviata every night until time immemorial. Only three nights since reviewing Damrau, Beczala and Lucic in La Scala’s […]
Bayerische Staatsoper: La Forza del Destino review
A vision of white, gold and musk, Munich Nationaltheater may be the ultimate music box opera house. Practically every seat is a good one, and the acoustics are amazing. Audiences dress as […]
La Scala: Serata Ratmansky review
Choreographer du jour, Alexei Ratmansky has established himself as an elegantly inventive master of the modern evolution of dance and ballet. Internationally in-demand, Australian audiences were fortunate enough to be treated to […]
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