James Inverne

Latest from this author

On Record: James Inverne Remembers Jon Vickers (1926-2015)

"Opera," said the Canadian tenor Jon Vickers once in an interview, "is not entertainment." For entertainment, he explained, he would far rather watch My Fair Lady. Opera had to go deeper. It was deeper, or it was nothing.
Classicalite's Five Best: Carlo Bergonzi Recordings

Classicalite contributing editor James Inverne states his case, with videos, for the five best Carlo Bergonzi recordings.
The Column: When The BBC Turned Teacher, And Got It Right

So what do we think about this new initiative from the BBC, this idea to create a UK-wide scheme to introduce children to classical music through a proscribed list of "Ten Pieces"?
Puccini's 'Tosca' with a Moving Difference at Pasadena's Pacific Opera Project

Pacific Opera Project have a nice idea for staging Puccini's classic. In a nice piece of innovative staging, the regional company Pacific Opera Project, are taking a dynamic approach to staging Puccini's Tosca.
Sir George Christie, Beloved Glyndebourne Opera Chief, Dead at 80

One of the best-loved figures in the British musical establishment has passed away. A pillar of the world opera establishment, Sir George Christie, has died.
Slipped Disc: Julian Lloyd Webber Forced to Retire from Cello

Julian and Jiaxin Lloyd Webber (with accompanist Pam Chowhan) just performed pieces from their widely successful international tour, "A Tale of Two Cellos," at London's Conway Hall. Now, one of the most prominent English cellists of his generation is forced to retire from his instrument due to health concerns.
The Column: Ralph Vaughn Williams' 'The Lark Ascending Wins' Again, But Why?

Here comes the unaskable question - what is it with The Lark Ascending? The Vaughan Williams work has again topped the Classic FM Hall of Fame poll. It might have been edged out by the Rach 2 for the last few years, but it is a
Baritone Sir Thomas Allen Takes on Scottish Opera, At Least for Now

Sir Thomas Allen has been named "music adviser" to Scottish Opera. The company has been music directorless since the abrupt resignation of its then-new music director Emmauel Joel-Hornak.
UK Culture Secretary Maria Miller Resigns, Industry Nervously Eyes Her Successor Sajid Javid

It's all change at the top of the UK arts scene as the government's Culture Secretary Maria Miller resigns after becoming embroiled in a scandal over her expenses (she was cleared of the major charges, but still has to pay several thousand pounds of claimed expenses back). Music pros on social...
Bass-Baritone John Shirley-Quirk, Legendary Britten Interpreter, Dead at 82

The English bass-baritone John Shirley-Quirk, one of the greatest of his generation, has died aged 82. Although he arguably could have turned his burnished voice, full of vibrant energy (often tastefully restrained by its owner), to a wider
Conductors in Conversation, No. 2: Harry Bicket

Englishman Harry Bicket made his name in Handel and early music, and succeeded Trevor Pinnock at the helm of the English Concert. He has quite recently take the top job at Santa Fe Opera and records for the Avie label, among others. He spoke to Classicalite's James Inverne about being
Magical Mystery Tour: Listen to Blur Bassist Alex James' Musical Salute to Bournemouth on Classic FM

Bournemouth-born cheese-lover Alex James explores the rich cultural history of the U.K. south coast town.
Does Italian Tenor Andrea Bocelli Really Deserve the Billboard Latin Music Award for Lifetime Achievement?

The Billboard Latin Music Awards will honor the freshly-hitched Andrea Bocelli at a ceremony on April 24. The Italian tenor will get the Lifetime Achievement Award. So, what do we all think about the prospect?
Musical Selfies: Ravel, Mussorgsky and Verdi...Without Makeup!

My Facebook feed has been dotted in recent day with the latest social media craze. For a good cause, female friends have been posting photographs of themselves without makeup. Some actually look better that way, in my opinion (I know, nobody asked). One can surely do the same in music. Follow the popular trend--in music!
Job Opening: Roger Wright, BBC Proms and Radio Three Controller, Leaving for Aldeburgh Festival

The U.K.'s classical landscape was hit by the cultural equivalent of a bombshell earlier this week as news spread that Roger Wright, the controller of BBC Radio Three and of the BBC Proms, will step down to run the Aldeburgh Festival.
The Column: Will DreamCenter Shanghai Really Rival Broadway and the West End?

So, apparently Shanghai is going to be the next big theater center in the world. New York has Broadway, London has the West End, and now Dreamworks is piling $2.4 billion into the Chinese city to make it a third entertainment destination to rival those two great theater capitals.
Who Next for Minnesota Orchestra (Litton, Petrenko, Heras-Casado)...If Not Osmo Vänskä?

As is being reported, it's not yet a done deal for Osmo Vanska to return to the Minnesota Orchestra as music director. But who would be a good choice?
Music Criticism Is Tongue-Tied, Says Daily Beast's Ted Gioia

A very interesting piece comes to us from Ted Gioia at The Daily Beast about music criticism, or rather its death, or rather its inability or unwillingness to use technical language or display, you know, any kind of actual knowledge. It's especially interesting because it seems to take the viewpoint of ...
Happy 100th Birthday, Ralph Vaughan Williams 'London' Symphony!

A Vaughan Williams masterpiece is 100 this month. Has anyone noticed? There have been some magnificent musical works composed on the subject of London, but surely none greater than Ralph Vaughan Williams' Second Symphony, premiered on March 27 1914 and therefore this month's honored birthday boy.
Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along Bags Seven Olivier 2014 Nominations

In true Sondheim fashion, fashion was proved wrong as the passing of time has led to acceptance, respect and acclaim for Merrily. The latest triumph is its just-announced seven nominations in the UK's 2014 Olivier Awards.
Len Cariou Joins Nathan Lane, Megan Mullally, Patrick Wilson, Sierra Boggess for One-Off 'Guys and Dolls' at Carnegie Hall

Full casting has been announced for Carnegie Hall's one-off concert performance of 'Guys and Dolls' on April 3 at 7:30 p.m. And, following in the well-established tradition of classically-inflected musical theater concerts, the line-up is stellar.
Italian Tenor Renato Cioni, One of Maria Callas' Leading Men, Dies at 84 on Elba

From an era when Italianate (and indeed, Italian) tenors were in more plentiful supply, Renato Cioni has passed away at the age of 84. He was also one of the last links to the age of Maria Callas, as one of her last Cavaradossis in Puccini's Tosca
The Column: Is the UK-Russia Year of Culture 2014 Under Threat Now?

What usually happens when the UK wants to express its annoyance with a state too big to rattle any sabres at (quite often Russia)? The spat will play out in the safe but very public arena of the arts.
Classicalite Recording News: Conductor Kent Nagano’s Daughter, Pianist Karin Kei Nagano, Debuts on Canada's Analekta

The Montreal Gazette has reported on a notable new release from the Analekta label, one of the leading Canadian recording companies. The reason that it will be of especial interest to some casual observers is that the pianist showcased on it is one Karin Kei Nagano--the 15-year-old daughter of Kent, revered chief conductor of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.
Classicalite's Five Best: Rock Stars and Their Musical Mentors

The trend of recent decades of rock stars to turn to classical music isn't so very surprising. No, especially not when you consider some very direct influences between the mainstream classical world and the rockers. Here, then, are Classicalite's Five Best rock stars and their classical mentors.
Composer Charlotte Bray Sells New Work, Bar-by-Bar, for Music in the Round Residency

An interesting article over at The Guardian reports on Brit composer Charlotte Bray's novel idea for fundraising her latest piece. She is selling it. One bar at a time.
The Column: Keep Calm and...Toi, Toi, Toi?

A Yiddish expression adopted by musicians worldwide. People ask me what have I learned, since starting a classical music consultancy company, that I didn't know when I was "just" a journalist.
The Column: All (or Most) Change in United Kingdom's Classical Music Scene?

But I wouldn't bet against Kirill Karabits being snapped up. Bournemouth has historically been a springboard for higher-profile appointments--and being from that town, myself, I yield to no one in my borderline fanatical admiration for its orchestra.
Jude Kelly's U.K. Southbank Centre Announce 2014-15 Season with Birtwistle Birthday, Anna Clyne and Barenboim Playing Schubert

The Southbank Centre is seen as an arbiter of London cultural taste, especially latterly under the leadership of Jude Kelly. And after 2013-14's season, themed after the Alex Ross book The Rest Is Noise (a brilliant conceit), there is considerable interest in her follow-up.
Edward Gardner Leaving English National Opera, Mark Wigglesworth Arriving

So, the news that Edward Gardner is stepping down after only seven years is almost as much of a shock as the simultaneous announcement that Mark Wigglesworth will follow him.