Bravo!

Elena Manistina, Mikhail Petrenko and Pavel Baransky shone last Friday at BBC Prom No. 68, in Rimsky Kosakov's rarely heard masterpiece 'Kashchey the Immortal'. The entirely Russian cast was said to have "... the seductive mix of power and sweeping lyricism that native Russian singers uniquely bring to Rimsky's operas." Critics were particularly impressed with mezzo Elena Manistina's performance, with 'Opera Today' saying that "...While the other roles verge on stereotype, Kashcheyevna is more complex, and Manistina impressed." Bravo!

Sergei Romanovsky gave a stunning performance last week at the Moscow Easter Festival singing Tebaldo in 'I Capuleti e Montecchi', displaying a musical and technical proficiency well beyond his years. The Moscow Independent wrote "...The audience discovered strong-voiced and artistic Romanovsky, who possesses vocal gifts and craftsmanship, which is now never expected from the graduates of Moscow (or any other) conservatoire..." [Translation]. For more reviews please click here.

Congratulations to Sir Charles Mackerras who has recently been named as the new honorary president of the Edinburgh International Festival Society. This is a great honour for Sir Charles and 'Festival Director Jonathan Mills said the accolade was in recognition of the wonderful performances he had brought festival audiences over 56 years. ' (BBC News, 20 August 2008) Please click here for the full news story. This year's Edinburgh Festival saw '...Charles Mackerras and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra supplying a similar dark intensity, this was also a true meeting of minds... Mackerras had a few aces up his sleeve, too. He had opened the programme with a lithe, propulsive performance of Mozart’s G minor symphony, but it was the two Dvorák items that sang most sweetly: the shyly tender Nocturne for string orchestra, followed by the bucolic charm of the Czech Suite.' For further reviews please click here.

Paul Goodwin has made a fantastic debut at Opera Australia and received many accolades already for his performances of Orlando. The Australian press wrote that "from the pit, Paul Goodwin led an excellent continuo group and responsive orchestra"..."The singers and the orchestra under the baton of Paul Goodwin are truly excellent and a delight to listen to"..."In the pit, conductor Paul Goodwin and the orchestra provided crisp, alert accompaniments."

Following his huge success with Brahms during the opening week of the Proms, Lars Vogt caused a sensation at the Salzburg Festival with his performances of Mozart K466 and K491 in the Mozart Matinee series last weekend. Die Presse wrote that "Ein Pianist prägte auch die letzte der Mozart-Matineen im Mozarteum: der 38-jährige Lars Vogt. Vor einigen Jahren die Entdeckung der Mozartwoche, gilt er längst als einer der wichtigsten Mozart-Interpreten der Gegenwart."