Fiona Maddocks
Fiona Maddocks is the Observer's classical music critic. She is the author of Hildegard of Bingen, Harrison Birtwistle: Wild Tracks and Music for Life. Follow her on Twitter: @FionaMaddocks
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Charpentier: La Descente d’Orphée aux Enfers CD review – a memorable descentEnsemble Correspondances/Daucé (Harmonia Mundi)
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Macbeth; The Rite of Spring review – from Dunsinane to PeckhamGianandrea Noseda and Turin’s Teatro Regio convey the full force of Verdi’s first Shakespeare opera. Plus, Stravinsky’s great work, four hands, one piano…
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Hannah Kendall: ‘I’m a millennial composer! I have to make money to survive’The composer on her forthcoming Proms debut, her jazz musician grandfather – and her dream collaborator…
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Peter Grimes; Bergen Philharmonic/ Gardner; René Pape & Camillo Radicke – reviewA superb cast and huge forces thrilled in Bergen Opera’s minimalist staging of Britten’s masterpiece
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Michael Spyres: Espoir CD review – hits all the high notesMichael Spyres (tenor), the Hallé/Rizzi
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‘Grenfell survivors should not have to choose better housing or opera’As Opera Holland Park mourned the loss of one of its own in the fire, critics used its council funding as proof of Kensington’s elitist priorities. But the directors claim the facts tell another story
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Ian McMillan: ‘Barnsley is culturally very interesting’The ‘bard of Barnsley’ on his new libretto for Ice-Cream: The Opera – and living in the village where he grew up
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The Observer critics’ guide to the summer holidaysMake cultural hay while the sun shines with our reviewers’ suggestions, from dreamy R&B to vintage Keanu Reeves to op art in the country
Beethoven: Complete Works for Piano Trio Vol IV CD review – grace and verve