Agrippina – Handel – Metropolitan Opera New York

Agrippina – Handel – Metropolitan Opera New York

David Buchler
Metropolitan Opera

It is over 300 years since the premiere of this operatic masterpiece by Handel, who was 24 years old at the time of composition. It depicts a Roman story of some 2,000 years ago, satirising the politicians of that day. But of course in this very modern interpretation of this piece by the Director David McVicar, whilst the times have changed the world certainly hasn’t. The Metropolitan Opera’s General Manager Peter Gelb said ‘Agrippina is a dark comedy about corrupt leaders who lie and manipulate in their quest to stay in power. We are grateful to the White House for making Agrippina feel more immediate’.

Maxim Vengerov – Carnegie Hall New York

Maxim Vengerov – Carnegie Hall New York

David Buchler
Carnegie Hall

In honour of the centenary of the birth of perhaps the greatest violinist ever to grace the stage of Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern, one of our greatest violinists today, the imperious Maxim Vengerov, played a concert of some merit with his piano playing partner, the Russian wunderkind Polina Osetinskaya. The programme had no hint of Russian music, not even in the four encores and perhaps that is why the evening didn’t really take off until the very end.