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John Findon (Peter Grimes) © James Glossop

John Findon triumphs in the return of Opera North’s Peter Grimes

By Richard Wilcocks, 13 February 2026

Benjamin Britten’s dark masterpiece Peter Grimes returns triumphantly to Opera North, conducted by Gary Walker and revived by Karolina Sofulak and Tim Claydon.

*****

*****

Leeds

13 Feb 2026

John Findon triumphs in the return of Opera North’s Peter Grimes

By Richard Wilcocks

Allan Clayton (Christian) © RBO | Marc Brenner

London

Black comedy of the highest order: the world premiere of Festen at The Royal Opera

By David Karlin, 11 February 2025

Mark-Anthony Turnage's operatic adaptation of Thomas Vinterberg's tale of abuse provides rich entertainment even as it shocks.

*****

*****

London

11 Feb 2025

Black comedy of the highest order: Festen at The Royal Opera

By David Karlin

Adrian Partington, soloists, the Philharmonia and Three Choirs Festival Chorus © James O'Driscoll

Gloucester

Preaching to the converted: Elgar’s The Apostles at the Three Choirs Festival

By Simon Cummings, 29 July 2023

Adrian Partington and the Philharmonia give an impersonal, soporific rendition of Elgar's The Apostles at Gloucester Cathedral.

**111

**111

Gloucester

29 Jul 2023

Preaching to the converted: The Apostles at the Three Choirs

By Simon Cummings

Worthing

Flying Dutchman becomes chillingly contemporary in OperaUpClose treatment

By Nick Boston, 07 July 2023

OperaUpClose's vision of a dystopian England through Wagner's Flying Dutchman, distilled for chamber forces, receives strong performances from the cast and Manchester Camerata players.

***11

***11

Worthing

07 Jul 2023

OperaUpClose's Flying Dutchman becomes chillingly contemporary

By Nick Boston

Unknown

A labour of love and determination: L’Enfant et les sortilèges

By David Smythe, 16 November 2020

Virtual Opera made real as Ravel's miniature masterpiece is recorded remotely around the world and melded with Leanne Vandenbussche’s picture-book drawings and the London Philharmonic Orchestra's soundtrack to create magic.

****1

****1

Unknown

16 Nov 2020

A labour of love and determination: L’Enfant et les sortilèges

By David Smythe

London

Telling Tales: Danyal Dhondy's Shahrazad unveiled at Leighton House

By Mark Pullinger, 11 February 2017

Danyal Dhondy's new opera Shahrazad focuses on the brave young heroine who spins her stories each evening to keep her husband, King Shahryār, enthralled... and what happened when Shahrazad finished telling her final tale.

***11

***11

London

11 Feb 2017

Telling Tales: Shahrazad unveiled

By Mark Pullinger