George Hall
Recent articles by George Hall
Giuditta Pasta: the legendary Italian soprano who blazed a trail a century before Maria Callas
A century before Maria Callas caught the world’s attention, there was another singer wielding immense power both on and off stage, Giuditta Pasta. George Hall tells the story of the Italian soprano
Contemplation (Huw Montague Rendall)
Rising star baritone Huw Montague Rendall impresses in this glorious debut recital, says George Hall in his review
Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades: the opera Tchaikovsky labelled his finest achievement
Based on a novel by Alexander Pushkin, Tchaikovsky saw The Queen of Spades (Pique Dame) as his greatest achievement. Here, we tell the story of this opera and name its best recordings
Langgaard: Antikrist
George Hall is impressed by this Berlin production of Langgaard’s complex and apocalyptic masterpiece, Antikrist, in this review
Mezzo Mozart (Marina Viotti)
How one transgender baritone changed the story of opera in America
In May 2019, as Don Giovanni for Tulsa Opera, Lucia Lucas became the first transgender artist to take a leading role with an American company. She tells her story to George Hall
Bertin: Fausto
A guide to Beethoven's Symphony No. 9
We delve into the revolutionary genius and lasting impact of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
Puccini: Symphonic Suites (arr. Carlo Rizzi)
Berlioz: The Damnation of Faust
Puccini: orchestral songs and works
Why are concert overtures no longer a part of concert programmes?
Overtures were once considered an essential feature of a typical orchestral concert. So, George Hall asks three of today’s leading conductors, why have they largely fallen out of favour?
Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Rodwell: Jack Sheppard
Who was Dame Joan Sutherland, the acclaimed soprano?
George Hall salutes the great Australian singer Dame Joan Sutherland, so peerless in the bel canto roles of Donizetti, Bellini and others
Wagner: Siegfried
Smyth: Der Wald
Rodgers & Hammerstein: Oklahoma!
Nathaniel Hackmann, Sierra Boggess, Louise Dearman et al; Sinfonia of London/John Wilson (Chandos)
Mozart • Pergolesi: La servante maîtresse etc
Adèle Carlier, Marc Scoffoni, David Tricou; Orchestre de l’Opéra Royal/Gaétan Jarry (Versailles)
Fabrice Bollon • Janáček: The Cunning Little Vixen etc
Samantha Gaul, Irina Jae-Eun Park (soprano) et al; The Lily’s Project/Fabrice Bollon (Naxos)
You Did Not Want for Joy (Sampson/Wadsworth)
Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Matt Wadsworth (lute) (Deux-Elles)
Pietro Mascagni: why the Italian composer should be remembered for more than Cavalleria rusticana
Famous for Cavalleria rusticana, Mascagni would probably be well known for his other operas too had the tide of political history not turned against him, says George Hall
Ravel: L'Heure espagnole; Bolero
Isabelle Druet, Julien Behr, Loïc Félix, Thomas Dolié, Jean Teitgen; Les Siècles/François-Xavier Roth (Harmonia Mundi)
Felix Mendelssohn: Choral Works
MDR Leipzig Radio Choir/Philipp Ahmann (Pentatone)