thu 03/07/2025

stephen walsh

Bio
Stephen is a former Observer music critic and a regular contributor to The Times, Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, Independent and the BBC. He is the author of a major biography of Stravinsky and other books on Stravinsky, Bartók and Schumann. He holds a chair in music at Cardiff University.

Articles By Stephen Walsh

Mazeppa, Grange Park Opera review - a gripping reassessment

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Peter Grimes, Welsh National Opera review - febrile energy and rage

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Uproar, Rafferty, Royal Welsh College, Cardiff review - colourful new inventions inspired by Ligeti

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The Marriage of Figaro, Welsh National Opera review - no concessions and no holds barred

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Il trittico, Welsh National Opera review - welcome back (but not a good sign)

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Rigoletto, Welsh National Opera review - back to what they do best

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Il Trittico, Welsh National Opera review - another triumph for a hard-pressed company

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The Merry Widow, Glyndebourne review - fun and frolics in the Embassy

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Così fan tutte, Welsh National Opera review - relevance reduced to irrelevance

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Uproar, Rafferty, Royal Welsh College, Cardiff review - a rare spring in the new music step

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BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Martin, Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff review - a host of horns in the wild woods

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La Traviata, Welsh National Opera review - memorable revival, unforgettable lead

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Ainadamar, Welsh National Opera review - hits hard without breaking ground

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The Pilgrim's Progress, Three Choirs Festival review - revelatory performance by young musicians

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theartsdesk at The Three Choirs Festival - Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Hammond

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The Bartered Bride, Garsington Opera review - brilliant revival of a comedy of cruelty

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'We are bowled over!' Thank you for your messages... ...
Album: Claudia Brücken - Night Mirror

German singer Claudia Brücken has had a long and busy career,...

Jurassic World Rebirth review - prehistoric franchise gets a...

The first Jurassic Park movie now seems virtually Jurassic itself, having been released in the sepia-tinged year of 1993. Directed with...

Album: Mocky - Music Will Explain (Choir Music Vol. 1)

Dominic “Mocky” Salole has had a long career in which the tension between authenticity and pastiche has been a constant. Toronto-born, of English...

Semele, Royal Opera review - unholy smoke

Poor, slightly silly Semele fries at the sight of lover Jupiter casting off his mortal form, but in Congreve’s and Handel’s supposedly happy...

Sudan, Remember Us review - the revolution will be memorised

In 2019, French-Tunisian journalist and documentary filmmaker Hind Meddeb flew to Sudan after the overthrow of hated dictator Omar al-Bashir,...

Le nozze di Figaro, Glyndebourne review - perceptive humanit...

Over 100 years ago, John Christie envisaged Wagner’s Parsifal with limited forces in the Organ Room at Glyndebourne. He would have been...

Quadrophenia, Sadler's Wells review - missed opportunit...

The red, white and blue bull’s-eye on the front curtain at Sadler’s Wells tells us we are in the familiar territory of Pete Townshend’s...

Fidelio, Garsington Opera review - a battle of sunshine and...

Sometimes, as the first act of Beethoven’s Fidelio closes, the chorus of prisoners discreetly fade away backstage as their brief taste of...

Summer Laugh review - five comics gear up for the Fringe

Appearing at the Edinburgh Fringe has long been an expensive gig for comics. But while stand-ups may need only a microphone to ply...