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Susannah Moody

Susannah Moody

A London-based journalist and ex-lawyer, Susannah will cheerfully listen to most styles of music. Having trained as an operatic soprano through school and university, she has worked for several opera companies and set up a student opera company where she translated, directed and performed in productions including flash mob opera. Most recently she took part in the ENO Response programme reviewing the company's 2022-2023 season. She also writes about food as The Moody Foodie.

Author:Susannah Moody

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Julia Wolfe's unEarth performed by the BBCSO © Ed Maitland Smith

UK premiere of Julia Wolfe’s unEarth impresses on scale, not substance

By Susannah Moody, 23 January 2026

Wolfe's climate-change oratorio, performed by the BBC Symphony Orchestra, already feels out of date.

**111

Julia Wolfe's unEarth performed by the BBCSO © Ed Maitland Smith

UK premiere of Julia Wolfe’s unEarth impresses on scale, not substance

By Susannah Moody

London Philharmonic Orchestra © Benjamin Ealovega

A blockbuster night on the Southbank with Gemma New and the LPO

By Susannah Moody, 12 November 2025

The LPO tackled California wildfires and star-crossed lovers in a theatrical evening at the Royal Festival Hall.

*****

London Philharmonic Orchestra © Benjamin Ealovega

Gemma New the LPO: a blockbuster night on the Southbank

By Susannah Moody

Karina Canellakis conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra © Marc Gascoigne

Reflections and frenzy: Boulanger and Stravinsky from Canellakis and the LPO

By Susannah Moody, 22 October 2025

A compelling evening from the London Philharmonic Orchestra tackles different themes of spring, showing gracefulness in Lili Boulanger’s works and beating up a frenzy in Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.

****1

Karina Canellakis conducts the London Philharmonic Orchestra © Marc Gascoigne

Reflections and frenzy from Canellakis and the London Philharmonic

By Susannah Moody

Lotte Betts-Dean © Monika S Jakubowska

London Sinfonietta's ‘Hidden Voices’ lack a narrative strand

By Susannah Moody, 03 April 2025

The London Sinfonietta blends premieres and poetry in a confusing evening at the Southbank Centre.

**111

Lotte Betts-Dean © Monika S Jakubowska

London Sinfonietta's ‘Hidden Voices’ lack a narrative strand

By Susannah Moody

Alys Mererid Roberts © Richard Hubert Smith

A tender Shakespeare-inspired curio from English Touring Opera

By Susannah Moody, 15 February 2025

ETO kicks off its spring season with What Dreams May Come, a strange and moving staging of songs inspired by William Shakespeare.

***11

Alys Mererid Roberts © Richard Hubert Smith

A tender Shakespeare-inspired curio from English Touring Opera

By Susannah Moody

Verneri Pohjola and the BBCSO © BBC | Mark Allan

An evening of poignant elegy from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO

By Susannah Moody, 24 January 2025

Oramo leads the BBC Symphony Orchestra and trumpeter Verneri Pohjola in a moving tribute to Kaija Saariaho with the UK premiere of her concerto HUSH.

*****

Verneri Pohjola and the BBCSO © BBC | Mark Allan

An evening of poignant elegy from Sakari Oramo and the BBCSO

By Susannah Moody

Hanna Hipp, Charlotte Politi and Chromatica Orchestra in rehearsal © Phil Sharp

Chromatica: young orchestra sounds a fanfare at Battersea relaunch

By Susannah Moody, 08 October 2024

A vivid relaunch of Chromatica Orchestra showcases wide-ranging talent and commitment to early career music at Battersea Arts Centre.

*****

Hanna Hipp, Charlotte Politi and Chromatica Orchestra in rehearsal © Phil Sharp

Chromatica: young orchestra sounds a fanfare at Battersea relaunch

By Susannah Moody

Reginald Mobley © Richard Dumas

Sons of England: a fresh look at English Baroque from the AAM

By Susannah Moody, 30 May 2024

Countertenor Reginald Mobley and the Academy of Ancient Music shine in an alternative history of English Baroque, with a new work by Roderick Williams.

****1

Reginald Mobley © Richard Dumas

Sons of England: a fresh look at English Baroque from the AAM

By Susannah Moody

Julia Sporsén, Anna-Maria Helsing and the BBC Concert Orchestra © BBC | Mark Allan

The BBCCO thrills in an evening of Sibelius and his Swedish neighbours

By Susannah Moody, 17 March 2024

A study of landscapes, freedom and love from the Anna-Maria Helsing and BBC Concert Orchestra, plus the world premiere of a Trinidadian concerto for orchestra.

****1

Julia Sporsén, Anna-Maria Helsing and the BBC Concert Orchestra © BBC | Mark Allan

BBCCO thrills in an evening of Sibelius and his Swedish neighbours

By Susannah Moody

Rainelle Krause (Queen of the Night) and Norman Reinhardt (Tamino) © Manuel Harlan

McBurney's delightfully batty Magic Flute returns to the Coliseum

By Susannah Moody, 28 February 2024

English National Opera brings back Simon McBurney's theatre of wonders for this Mozart classic.

****1

Rainelle Krause (Queen of the Night) and Norman Reinhardt (Tamino) © Manuel Harlan

McBurney's delightfully batty Magic Flute returns to the Coliseum

By Susannah Moody

Ellie Neate (The Duchess) © Claire Shovelton

Bringing on the melodrama in a Wilde adaptation

By Susannah Moody, 20 February 2024

Edward Lambert and The Music Troupe bring Oscar Wilde's curio The Duchess of Padua to the stage in a new tragic opera.

***11

Ellie Neate (The Duchess) © Claire Shovelton

Bringing on the melodrama in a Wilde adaptation

By Susannah Moody

Alice Sara Ott, Elim Chan and the Philharmonia © Philharmonia Orchestra | Marc Gascoigne

Alice Sara Ott and Elim Chan a dazzling duo in new Bryce Dessner concerto

By Susannah Moody, 15 February 2024

The UK premiere of Dessner's Piano Concerto is followed by a lavishly gorgeous account of Scheherazade.

****1

Alice Sara Ott, Elim Chan and the Philharmonia © Philharmonia Orchestra | Marc Gascoigne

Alice Sara Ott and Elim Chan a dazzling duo in new Dessner concerto

By Susannah Moody

Laurence Cummings directs the Academy of Ancient Music © AAM | Mark Allan

A joyful celebration of Bach: the AAM plays the Brandenburgs at Milton Court

By Susannah Moody, 26 January 2024

All six concertos in one evening at Milton Court, presented with verve and talent by the Academy of Ancient Music and Laurence Cummings.

****1

Laurence Cummings directs the Academy of Ancient Music © AAM | Mark Allan

A joyful celebration of Bach: the AAM plays the Brandenburgs

By Susannah Moody

Simone Ibbett-Brown and ensemble © Mark Allan

Purcell meets panto in a spritely night with the OAE

By Susannah Moody, 17 January 2024

The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment brings midsummer magic to the QEH, with a wholesome, community opera.

****1

Simone Ibbett-Brown and ensemble © Mark Allan

Purcell meets panto in a spritely night with the OAE

By Susannah Moody

Anne-Sophie Mutter, Jonathon Heyward and the London Philharmonic Orchestra © London Philharmonic Orchestra

A mixed Mutter-Williams collaboration with the London Philharmonic Orchestra

By Susannah Moody, 13 January 2024

John Williams' Violin Concerto composed for Anne-Sophie Mutter misses the mark in the LPO's night at the movies.

***11

Anne-Sophie Mutter, Jonathon Heyward and the London Philharmonic Orchestra © London Philharmonic Orchestra

A mixed Mutter-Williams collaboration with the LPO

By Susannah Moody

Anastasia Kobekina and Cédric Tiberghien © The Wigmore Hall Trust, 2024

Sensational Franco-Russian evening from Anastasia Kobekina and Cédric Tiberghien

By Susannah Moody, 09 January 2024

Anastasia Kobekina and Cedric Tiberghien treat Wigmore Hall to a night of flair, flitting between their two homelands.

*****

Anastasia Kobekina and Cédric Tiberghien © The Wigmore Hall Trust, 2024

Sensational Franco-Russian evening from Kobekina and Tiberghien

By Susannah Moody

Yolisa Ngwexana (The Blue Fairy) © David Monteith-Hodge | Photographise

Sacred and profane in Guildhall School's Respighi double bill

By Susannah Moody, 06 November 2023

From the spiritual conversion of a Medieval sex-worker, to the Sleeping Beauty tale reimagined, Guildhall stages a Respighi double-bill.

***11

Yolisa Ngwexana (The Blue Fairy) © David Monteith-Hodge | Photographise

Sacred and profane in Guildhall School's Respighi double bill

By Susannah Moody

Piotr Anderszewski © Simon Fowler | Warner Classics

An electrifying recital by Piotr Anderszewski

By Susannah Moody, 02 November 2023

In a tempestuous and exhilarating evening at the Barbican, the Polish pianist displays typical mastery of Bach, Szymanowski, Webern and Beethoven.

****1

Piotr Anderszewski © Simon Fowler | Warner Classics

An electrifying recital by Piotr Anderszewski

By Susannah Moody