Reviews by Julian Stewart
Carmen
Julian Stewart
Ellen Kent’s touring productions are often advertised and remembered for their focus on accessibility and entertainment, and for their extravagant spectacle (live animals, champagne fountains!) – ...
16 years ago
Carmen
The Rake's Progress
Julian Stewart
How can any review of Garsington Opera not begin by singing the praises of the setting? On a cloudless evening such as tonight it made for one of the most enchanting operatic experiences I can ...
17 years ago
The Rake's Progress
WNO's Autumn Season 2007
Julian Stewart
Il TrovatoreThe most striking feature of this production was surely the stage sets. These were extremely spare, composed almost exclusively of towering walls, each a small segment of a circle and ...
17 years ago
WNO's Autumn Season 2007
St Peter's College Chapel
Julian Stewart
Once a parish church (of St Peter-le-Bailey), this is the largest of the Oxford college chapels. Re-decorated in Italianate shades of pink and blue and furnished with excellent lighting, this is a ...
18 years ago
St Peter's College Chapel
Die Fledermaus
Julian Stewart
‘featuring a magnificent golden eagle with a seven-foot wingspan’
‘hot-blooded … with a majestic white Andalucian stallion’
‘featuring colour street entertainers’
‘with antique ...
18 years ago
Die Fledermaus
La Bohème
Julian Stewart
This was a superb production. The singing, the acting, the orchestra, the choreography, the sets… excellent; thoroughly recommended.
An essay in the programme notes by the conductor begins ...
18 years ago
La Bohème
St Andrew's Church (Summertown)
Julian Stewart
Large evangelical church with every audio-visual facility your concert might require. Excellent visibility from all seats (and first-floor gallery). Warm, comfortable and well-lit. Large foyer area ...
19 years ago
St Andrew's Church (Summertown)
St Mary the Virgin, University Church
Julian Stewart
Popular concert venue - be sure to book long in advance. It advertises itself to concert promoters as 'more comfortable than the Sheldonian at a fraction of the price'. The central altar can be moved ...
19 years ago
St Mary the Virgin, University Church
Christ Church Cathedral
Julian Stewart
Visibility is the main problem in the Cathedral. The total capacity is enormous (over 1,000 attended a recent service), but the chairs and pews facing different directions and are so interspersed ...
19 years ago
Christ Church Cathedral
Wadham College Chapel
Julian Stewart
The chapel is a wonderful concert venue, and little-used despite having a full performing licence (unless the Holywell Music Room is out of action, in which case concerts are normally relocated to ...
19 years ago
Wadham College Chapel
La Cenerentola
Julian Stewart
La Cenerentola – ‘Cinderella’ – was the result of a late night brainstorming session between Rossini and his librettist, Christmas 1816, who were suddenly in urgent need of a new opera (the ...
19 years ago
La Cenerentola
