Melanie Eskenazi

1 month ago | musicomh.com | Melanie Eskenazi

The University of York is the setting for Bach’s tale of Christ’s last days. The Matthew is a huge undertaking for any choir and orchestra, especially when your venue is as acoustically unforgiving as the University of York’s Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, but guided by the sure hand of Peter Seymour and featuring the unmatchable duo of James Gilchrist and Matthew Brook as Evangelist and Christus, the performance made light of the work’s many challenges.

1 month ago | musicomh.com | Melanie Eskenazi

Some fine singing in Leeds’ St Edmund’s Church. ‘O Mensch, mache Richtigkeit…’ in these dark times, the advice in the second part of the St John Passion to ‘act justly’ seems especially appropriate, as we hover on the brink of so much conflict. This concert season is dominated by the St John, with few outings for the St Matthew Passion, and this seems appropriate since the John is a passion of love and reconcilement.

1 month ago | musicomh.com | Melanie Eskenazi

Summer is coming with country house operas in idyllic grounds. Along with ‘the two Granges’ (The Grange Festival and Grange Park Opera), Glyndebourne is now open for public bookings, with Garsington Opera set to open on 1 April. These small venues, promising not just an opera but hours spent in glorious garden surrounds, can be accessed for as little as £25-£40 if you don’t mind a restricted view or standing.

2 months ago | musicomh.com | Melanie Eskenazi

Trials by fire and water cannot deter Opera North from delivering a wonderful evening. Opera North’s revival of James Brining’s spectacular production emphasizes the pantomime qualities of the libretto, whilst retaining the work’s essential spirituality. Sung in English and enthusiastically marketed to new and/or younger audiences, it was rapturously received by a packed house.

2 months ago | musicomh.com | Melanie Eskenazi

A tale of love, salvation and betrayal that doesn’t leave you high and dry. ‘Fliegende’ in the original title means ‘fleeing’ rather than ‘flying,’ and this production by Annabel Arden, with superb performances by Robert Hayward as the Dutchman, Edgaras Montvidas as Erik/Steersman and Layla Claire as Senta, focuses on the plight of those who seek ‘heimat’ or home, yet cannot find any refuge.