Aristo Sham’s victory at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition signifies a landmark achievement in Hong Kong’s classical music history. Unsurprisingly, tickets to his homecoming concerts at the University of Hong Kong were snapped up within minutes. Once lauded

If the directors of the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro intended to set the fox among the chickens and shake up their audience this year, they certainly succeeded. Just the mention of controversial director Calixto Bieito set tongues wagging and

One of my favourite memories of all time is of snorkelling in Fiji on a school trip in my late teens. The beaches were light and sandy, the water somehow both bright turquoise and perfectly translucent. Equipped with flippers and

With much fanfare, the Salzburg Festival announced Ulrich Rasche as director of Gaetano Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda. A proponent of “perpetual stage movement and intense lighting to create visceral experiences,” the German director’s vision was of two queens, each stuck in

“The Collection (2015-25)” by Fly On The Wall, a British film studio dedicated to the power of classical music, is a landmark 10-year documentary project offering an unprecedented, unfiltered glimpse into the lives of elite classical musicians. Conceived by musician

It’s not often you see a production of Rigoletto that focuses more on the louche women rather than the louche men. The revival production by Greek National Opera, originally staged in 2022, tried to set the scene in the ‘corrupt

Renowned for their passion, precision, and unmistakable flair for reviving little-known or forgotten musical jewels and celebrated masterpieces from the 17th and 18th centuries, Christophe Rousset and his ensemble “Les Talens Lyriques” have captivated audiences around the world for over

After 48 years – mirabile dictu – Milan’s Teatro alla Scala has mustered the courage to bring back Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma. The reasons for the long absence are somewhat unclear. Were memories of Montserrat Caballé’s sensational 1977 performance still too fresh?