George Hall
@georgehallmusic.bsky.social
Busy writer on classical music and opera for The Stage, BBC Music Magazine, Opera & many others: also a (very minor) composer and pianist (of the fourth rank). We need the arts more and more: in the words of Dostoyevsky, 'Beauty shall save the world'.
Tonight @ the Pavilion Gardens Theatre @buxtonfestival.bsky.social will unveil 4 new operas by 4 different creative teams: Inevitable, Life Gets Stretched, Disorderly House & Tears Are Not Meant to Stay Inside. Reviewing for @thestage.co.uk
July 13, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Tonight @ the Pavilion Gardens Theatre @buxtonfestival.bsky.social will unveil 4 new operas by 4 different creative teams: Inevitable, Life Gets Stretched, Disorderly House & Tears Are Not Meant to Stay Inside. Reviewing for @thestage.co.uk
In delightful Buxton where last night the @buxtonfestival.bsky.social's opening show in the Buxton Opera House was Ambroise Thomas’ 1868 Hamlet -- an outstanding example of Shakespeare in French grand opéra mode: Adrian Kelly conducts, Jack Furness directs. Review to appear in @thestage.co.uk
July 13, 2025 at 9:16 AM
In delightful Buxton where last night the @buxtonfestival.bsky.social's opening show in the Buxton Opera House was Ambroise Thomas’ 1868 Hamlet -- an outstanding example of Shakespeare in French grand opéra mode: Adrian Kelly conducts, Jack Furness directs. Review to appear in @thestage.co.uk
To @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social this evening for Islington Choral Society’s concert performance of HMS Pinafore conducted by Michael Waldron. Simon Butteriss stars.
July 5, 2025 at 8:27 AM
To @sinfoniasmithsq.bsky.social this evening for Islington Choral Society’s concert performance of HMS Pinafore conducted by Michael Waldron. Simon Butteriss stars.
To the Grange Festival today for Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus sung in a translation by John Mortimer in a production by Paul Curran. The @bournemouthso.bsky.social is conducted by Paul Daniel & the cast includes many good names. Writing for @thestage.co.uk.
June 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
To the Grange Festival today for Johann Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus sung in a translation by John Mortimer in a production by Paul Curran. The @bournemouthso.bsky.social is conducted by Paul Daniel & the cast includes many good names. Writing for @thestage.co.uk.
To @cadoganhall.bsky.social this evening for a concert by the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Zvonimir Hačko. Lusine Khachatryan & Philip Cobb are soloists in Shostakovich’s Concerto for piano, trumpet & strings, plus his Chamber Symphony & Britten's Frank Bridge Variations.
June 19, 2025 at 2:12 PM
To @cadoganhall.bsky.social this evening for a concert by the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Zvonimir Hačko. Lusine Khachatryan & Philip Cobb are soloists in Shostakovich’s Concerto for piano, trumpet & strings, plus his Chamber Symphony & Britten's Frank Bridge Variations.
To the Grange Festival today for La traviata in a production by Maxime Braham, designed by Jamie Vartan, lit by Johanna Town & with the @bournemouthso.bsky.social conducted by Richard Farnes. The cast includes Samantha Clarke, Nico Darmanin and Dario Solari.
June 14, 2025 at 11:09 AM
To the Grange Festival today for La traviata in a production by Maxime Braham, designed by Jamie Vartan, lit by Johanna Town & with the @bournemouthso.bsky.social conducted by Richard Farnes. The cast includes Samantha Clarke, Nico Darmanin and Dario Solari.
Handel’s Saul @ Glyndebourne for me today, in Barrie Kosky’s staging conducted by Jonathan Cohen & with two of the production’s original (2015) cast members – Christopher Purves & Iestyn Davies -- reappearing. Writing for @thestage.co.uk
June 8, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Handel’s Saul @ Glyndebourne for me today, in Barrie Kosky’s staging conducted by Jonathan Cohen & with two of the production’s original (2015) cast members – Christopher Purves & Iestyn Davies -- reappearing. Writing for @thestage.co.uk
To @cadoganhall.bsky.social today for Chelsea Opera Group’s concert performance of a Bellini rarity: La straniera. Stephen Barlow conducts and central casting consists of @helenadix.bsky.social,Thomas Elwin, Dan D'Souza & Georgia Mae Bishop. Reviewing for Opera Magazine.
June 1, 2025 at 7:44 AM
To @cadoganhall.bsky.social today for Chelsea Opera Group’s concert performance of a Bellini rarity: La straniera. Stephen Barlow conducts and central casting consists of @helenadix.bsky.social,Thomas Elwin, Dan D'Souza & Georgia Mae Bishop. Reviewing for Opera Magazine.
Tonight at the Royal Academy of Music for Britten’s church parable The Burning Fiery Furnace, conducted by Christopher White & directed by Victoria Newlyn. Not a piece that gets many performances, so I’m looking forward to encountering again after a long gap!
May 16, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Tonight at the Royal Academy of Music for Britten’s church parable The Burning Fiery Furnace, conducted by Christopher White & directed by Victoria Newlyn. Not a piece that gets many performances, so I’m looking forward to encountering again after a long gap!
To Glasgow tonight for a @scottishopera.bsky.social double bill of operetta at the Theatre Royal: Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial by Jury is directed by @johnsavournin.bsky.social & A Matter of Misconduct (by composer @TobyHession & librettist Emma Jenkins) by Laura Attridge; Hession conducts both.
May 14, 2025 at 6:20 AM
To Glasgow tonight for a @scottishopera.bsky.social double bill of operetta at the Theatre Royal: Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial by Jury is directed by @johnsavournin.bsky.social & A Matter of Misconduct (by composer @TobyHession & librettist Emma Jenkins) by Laura Attridge; Hession conducts both.
Off to @blackheathhalls.bsky.social for New Sussex Opera's UK premiere production of Saint-Saëns’ first opera, Le timbre d’argent (The Silver Bell) which tells a Hoffmann-like fantastical tale. Paul Higgins directs,Toby Purser conducts & Anthony Flaum stars as the fated Conrad.
May 11, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Off to @blackheathhalls.bsky.social for New Sussex Opera's UK premiere production of Saint-Saëns’ first opera, Le timbre d’argent (The Silver Bell) which tells a Hoffmann-like fantastical tale. Paul Higgins directs,Toby Purser conducts & Anthony Flaum stars as the fated Conrad.
This evening to the Royal Ballet & Opera for Die Walküre, the second instalment of Barrie Kosky’s Ring cycle. Antonio Pappano conducts a cast including Christopher Maltman, Elisabet Strid, Natalya Romaniw, Stanislaw De Barbeyrac & Soloman Howard. Writing for @TheStage.co.uk
May 1, 2025 at 6:44 AM
This evening to the Royal Ballet & Opera for Die Walküre, the second instalment of Barrie Kosky’s Ring cycle. Antonio Pappano conducts a cast including Christopher Maltman, Elisabet Strid, Natalya Romaniw, Stanislaw De Barbeyrac & Soloman Howard. Writing for @TheStage.co.uk
Looking forward to tonight’s official launch of the BBC Proms 2025 @designmusssein.bsky.social – always an exciting moment in the musical year and a harbinger of the summer to come. Season runs from 18 July to September 13.
April 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Looking forward to tonight’s official launch of the BBC Proms 2025 @designmusssein.bsky.social – always an exciting moment in the musical year and a harbinger of the summer to come. Season runs from 18 July to September 13.
Looking forward with keen anticipation to discovering who has won in the various categories of BBC Music Magazine awards @kingsplacelondon.bsky.social this evening. Always an exciting event, and enjoyable to hear live music as well as either speeches or videos from the triumphant artists.
April 23, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Looking forward with keen anticipation to discovering who has won in the various categories of BBC Music Magazine awards @kingsplacelondon.bsky.social this evening. Always an exciting event, and enjoyable to hear live music as well as either speeches or videos from the triumphant artists.
Off to the Royal Ballet & Opera this evening for Damiano Michieletto’s production of Carmen starring Aigul Akhmetshina & Freddie De Tommaso. Sir Mark Elder conducts. I’m writing for @thestage.co.uk
April 9, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Off to the Royal Ballet & Opera this evening for Damiano Michieletto’s production of Carmen starring Aigul Akhmetshina & Freddie De Tommaso. Sir Mark Elder conducts. I’m writing for @thestage.co.uk
To @SinfoniaSmithSq.bsky.social this evening for Elgar’s oratorio The Kingdom with Islington Choral Society + Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Michael Waldron: soloists Claire Rutter, Katie Bray, Sam Furness & Patrick Alexander Keefe.
April 6, 2025 at 1:31 PM
To @SinfoniaSmithSq.bsky.social this evening for Elgar’s oratorio The Kingdom with Islington Choral Society + Westminster Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Michael Waldron: soloists Claire Rutter, Katie Bray, Sam Furness & Patrick Alexander Keefe.
At the Wales Millennium Centre this evening for @welshnatopera.bsky.social's new Peter Grimes, directed by Melly Still, conducted by Tomáš Hanus & starring Nicky Spence, Sally Matthews, David Kempster, Dame Sarah Connolly + many other leading British singers. Writing for @TheStage.co.uk
April 5, 2025 at 7:50 AM
At the Wales Millennium Centre this evening for @welshnatopera.bsky.social's new Peter Grimes, directed by Melly Still, conducted by Tomáš Hanus & starring Nicky Spence, Sally Matthews, David Kempster, Dame Sarah Connolly + many other leading British singers. Writing for @TheStage.co.uk
At Cadogan Hall this evening for Chelsea Opera Group’s concert performance of Edouard Lalo’s Le Roi d’Ys (1888), which I’m looking forward to hearing for the first time. Paul Wingfield conducts a cast that includes T D Hopkinson, Maria Schellenberg, Hye-Youn Lee and Luis Gomes.
March 30, 2025 at 12:09 PM
At Cadogan Hall this evening for Chelsea Opera Group’s concert performance of Edouard Lalo’s Le Roi d’Ys (1888), which I’m looking forward to hearing for the first time. Paul Wingfield conducts a cast that includes T D Hopkinson, Maria Schellenberg, Hye-Youn Lee and Luis Gomes.
Opera fans: if you’re able to get to the @bloomsburytheatre.bsky.social Saturday 29 March, I urge you to catch the second & final performance of UCOpera’s production of Fellow Travelers, a work by American composer Gregory Spears & librettist Greg Pierce: outstanding & ON NO ACCOUNT to be missed!
March 29, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Opera fans: if you’re able to get to the @bloomsburytheatre.bsky.social Saturday 29 March, I urge you to catch the second & final performance of UCOpera’s production of Fellow Travelers, a work by American composer Gregory Spears & librettist Greg Pierce: outstanding & ON NO ACCOUNT to be missed!
Tonight I’m taking a look at Tales of Apollo & Hercules, a duo of cantatas (Apollo e Dafne & The Choice of Hercules) staged by Thomas Guthrie as part of the London Handel Festival: venue Shoreditch Town Hall. David Bates directs @lanuovamusica.bsky.social. Reviewing for @thestage.co.uk
March 27, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Tonight I’m taking a look at Tales of Apollo & Hercules, a duo of cantatas (Apollo e Dafne & The Choice of Hercules) staged by Thomas Guthrie as part of the London Handel Festival: venue Shoreditch Town Hall. David Bates directs @lanuovamusica.bsky.social. Reviewing for @thestage.co.uk
To the Royal Ballet & Opera this evening for Andrei Serban’s production of Puccini’s Turandot starring Sondra Radvanovsky & SeokJong Baek & with Rafael Payare conducting. Reviewing for @thestage.co.uk
March 19, 2025 at 12:47 PM
To the Royal Ballet & Opera this evening for Andrei Serban’s production of Puccini’s Turandot starring Sondra Radvanovsky & SeokJong Baek & with Rafael Payare conducting. Reviewing for @thestage.co.uk
To Cadogan Hall this evening for 'Donizetti and Friends', songs by Donizetti & Berlioz performed by Marie-Nicole Lemieux & Michael Spyres with pianist Giulio Zappa – all part of Opera Rara’s complete edition of the Italian composer’s songs.
March 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
To Cadogan Hall this evening for 'Donizetti and Friends', songs by Donizetti & Berlioz performed by Marie-Nicole Lemieux & Michael Spyres with pianist Giulio Zappa – all part of Opera Rara’s complete edition of the Italian composer’s songs.
Off to Cadogan Hall this afternoon for a fascinating programme by the English Chamber Orchestra under Nimrod Borenstein which includes his own Shakespeare Songs sung by Sarah Fox. Also on the bill works by Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Coleridge-Taylor.
March 9, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Off to Cadogan Hall this afternoon for a fascinating programme by the English Chamber Orchestra under Nimrod Borenstein which includes his own Shakespeare Songs sung by Sarah Fox. Also on the bill works by Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Coleridge-Taylor.
Tonight to Wilton's Music Hall for Charles Court Opera’s Magic Flute, in a new English version by @johnsavournin.bsky.social & David Eaton. Writing for Opera magazine
February 27, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Tonight to Wilton's Music Hall for Charles Court Opera’s Magic Flute, in a new English version by @johnsavournin.bsky.social & David Eaton. Writing for Opera magazine
Off to Hackney Empire this evening for Eloise Lally’s production for ETO of Bellini’s I Capuleti ed i Montecchi (sung in Italian though the title is in English). Alphonse Cemin conducts, Lily Arnold designs. Reviewing for The Stage.
February 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Off to Hackney Empire this evening for Eloise Lally’s production for ETO of Bellini’s I Capuleti ed i Montecchi (sung in Italian though the title is in English). Alphonse Cemin conducts, Lily Arnold designs. Reviewing for The Stage.