The last thing you'll ever hear: what is the world's best deathbed music? by Kate Molleson

The makers of a new show about the perfect musical farewell turned up a lot of names, from Celine Dion to U2 to Susan Boyle. But there was one clear favourite: the light-filled music of Esto…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:05am on November 8, 2017[SHARE]

Had We Never review " music and poetry to exorcise Scottish demons by Kate Molleson

Scottish National Portrait Gallery, EdinburghA new setting of Robert Burns' The Slave's Lament by Sally Beamish and Adrian Sherwood was the centrepiece of a concert of stark beauty and dark …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:18am on August 18, 2017[SHARE]

Greek review " Oedipus opera update as relevant and risque as ever by Kate Molleson

Festival theatre, EdinburghA stellar cast in this minimalist new production " complete with shouty, Brexit-era headlines " make Mark-Anthony Turnage's 1980s classic a tale for our timesAfter…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:06am on August 7, 2017[SHARE]

She Moved Through the Fair / Leveret reviews " a touching tribute and classy and convivial folk by Kate Molleson

Tron theatre / National Piping Centre, GlasgowThe story of fearless balladeer Margaret Barry is told on stage in a gentle and poignant tribute, and Leveret bring the finest of traditional fo…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 6:06am on January 24, 2017[SHARE]

Così fan Tutte review " Mozart's frothy opera turns nasty by Kate Molleson

Festival theatre, EdinburghTransplanted to 1930s Eritrea, Christopher Honoré's version skims off the froth and stirs in the darker themes of power play, violence and abuseIt's the dregs of …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 8:04am on August 26, 2016[SHARE]

SCO/Gardiner; Aimard/Tamestit/ Simpson review " kitsch drama and multiple homages by Kate Molleson

Usher Hall (two stars); Queen's Hall (four stars), EdinburghAudience attention waned during the Scottish Chamber Orchestra's performance of Schumann's Manfred, but Pierre-Laurent Aimard's tr…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:32pm on August 14, 2016[SHARE]

Orpheus for the age of Trump: Anaïs Mitchell on her folk opera Hadestown by Kate Molleson

Mitchell's hit off-Broadway show about a tyrannical billionaire building a wall to 'keep out the enemy' was written in 2006 but could hardly be more topical. The folk singer discusses retell…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:21pm on June 14, 2016[SHARE]

The Magic Flute at Edinburgh festival review " all the makings of a classic by Kate Molleson

Festival theatre, EdinburghTheatre company 1927's enchanting staging of the opera as a silent film " with Papageno as Buster Keaton and Pamina as Louise Brooks " will be hard to topThis prod…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:26am on August 28, 2015[SHARE]

The Rake's Progress review " revealing a rare, emotionally tender Stravinsky by Kate Molleson

Usher Hall, Edinburgh The Scottish Chamber Orchestra under Andrew Davis was graceful and bright, and some fine soloists made this concert-staging memorable and enjoyableThis opera spins its …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:58am on August 13, 2015[SHARE]

Final Night review Jonathan Mills's swansong struggles to take flight by Kate Molleson

Usher Hall, EdinburghMills's own Sandakan Threnody, his farewell as festival director, pales next to Janáek's Glagolitic Mass Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:19pm on August 31, 2014[SHARE]

Harry Partch how Heiner Goebbels bought Delusion of the Fury to Edinburgh by Kate Molleson

US composer Harry Partch invented an entirely new musical language and created an orchestra of new instruments to play it on. Heiner Goebbels tells Kate Molleson about his production of Part…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 2:00am on August 29, 2014[SHARE]

William Tell review Noseda does justice to Rossini's freedom fighter by Kate Molleson

Usher Hall, EdinburghTeatro Regio Torino's sparkling concert-performance of the full Rossini opera proves there's more to it than the 'Lone Ranger' overture Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 9:41am on August 27, 2014[SHARE]

Edinburgh festival 2014 review: Alban Gerhardt/Steven Osborne a real musical partnership by Kate Molleson

Queen's HallSteven Osborne wrestled with Tippett and Alban Gerhardt communed with Britten, before pianist and cellist thrillingly joined forces Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:42am on August 14, 2014[SHARE]

Edinburgh festival 2014 review: RSNO/Knussen intriguingly radical curtain-raiser by Kate Molleson

Usher Hall, EdinburghChoosing three of the most forward-thinking pieces composed before the first world war was a tantalising take on the festival's theme of art and conflict Continue readin…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 7:02am on August 10, 2014[SHARE]

Macbeth review: Scottish Opera's awkward compromise by Kate Molleson

Citizens, GlasgowInstead of Verdi's full orchestra we get a chamber ensemble " an awkward compromise in terms of timbre and balanceWith its regular home (the Theatre Royal), currently under …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 12:40pm on March 23, 2014[SHARE]

Patti Smith/Philip Glass " Edinburgh festival 2013 review by Kate Molleson

Playhouse, EdinburghA warm, magnetic Smith teams up with Glass for a heartfelt tribute to Allen GinsbergPatti Smith met Allen Ginsberg when she was 22, and he bought her lunch thinking she w…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:51am on August 14, 2013[SHARE]

The Pirates of Penzance " review by Kate Molleson

Theatre Royal, GlasgowIt is a glorious thing that The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company " purveyors of all things Gilbert and Sullivan " have returned to the stage after 10 years in the wings. That…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 1:35pm on May 16, 2013[SHARE]