Serena Malfi: “I was scared I would never sing again”

By Stephen Pritchard, 21 February 2019

Loading, please wait...

“Nothing can stop me now... After that experience, anything is easier”

Jessica Duchen, 7th January

The Irish soprano talks about singing Mozart’s Così fan tutte with English National Opera, in London and Manchester – and how the wily Despina is the perfectly subversive character for her.

Kith and kin: Brett Dean and family prepare Of One Blood

Lawrence Dunn, 1st May

Brett Dean, Heather Betts and Lotte Betts-Dean sit down to discuss their work on Of One Blood, a new opera dramatising the lives of Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots – affairs of the family all round.

Attuned to the times: Anastasia Kobekina in Prague

Charlotte Gardner, 30th April

Ahead of a return to Prague to perform with the Czech Philharmonic, Anastasia Kobekina talks about Bryce Dessner’s new cello concerto, Trembling Earth, her love for Dvořák, and exploring new instruments.

Rambert School, Juilliard School, McGregor: triple threat!

Deborah Weiss, 29th April

Amanda Britton, Artistic Director of Rambert School, talks about an exchange and collaboration between the Rambert School and Juilliard to create a new work by Wayne McGregor, a unique project.

No fixed paths: Jorge Losana on Early music in Spain

Eleanor Knight, 24th April

Founder of celebrated young vocal ensemble Cantoría talks about being a musical organiser, singing musical ensaladas, and how Barcelona might be the capital of Early music on the Iberian peninsula.

On a whim: Hina Maeda on the Wieniawski Competition

Nahoko Gotoh, 23rd April

Five years ago, the Japanese violinist made the spontaneous decision to enter the prestigious Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition. She talks about how her win in 2022 was a musically life-changing experience.

Stephen Pritchard

Stephen Pritchard began singing as a treble at the age of eight and progressed to become a tenor in Portsmouth Cathedral Choir, the Gibbons Consort and now the English Chamber Choir. Writing about music has been at the core of his 40-year career in journalism, chiefly at the Observer. He has been known to play a pretty mean jazz double bass.