> ANDRE RIEU LIVE

Wembley Arena, London
7 December 2013

André Rieu - The talented Violinist and Conductor brings his Johann Strauss Orchestra to London. He delivered an amazing evening of song, music and Dutch humour! A perfect way to get in the festive party mood!

André Léon Marie Nicolas Rieu is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra.
 André and his Orchestra have turned classical and waltz music into a worldwide concert touring phenomenon, as successful as any of the biggest global pop and rock acts.

We really didn't know what to expect from our evening with André... Was he going to entertain us, or was he going to drive us crazy??? - Luckily for us, he proved to be a very entertaining show-man - Full of energy, and capable of whisking his adoring fans into a lather! An amazing night of classics!

What the popular press have to say about Mr André:
"The hot flush heart-throb! He's the 63 year old violinist who (for ladies of a certain age) is bigger than Robbie Williams and One Direction put together"

8 out of 10!

>MADAM BUTTERFLY

London Coliseum, London
30 May 2012

Madam Butterfly - Hailed by the Sunday Telegraph as 'the most beautiful show of the year' in operatic London, the late Anthony Minghella’s Olivier Award-winning take on Puccini’s culture-clash tragedy returns to whisk the audience away on an oriental adventure full of drama and emotional charge.

A rich and rewarding evening at the Coliseum. Beautifully simple sets and extravagant costumes helped the talented cast to tell a wonderful Story. Masterful puppetry added an unexpected touch of magic as the young son came to life in front of our eyes. A tragic story with highlights of colour and laughter - classic opera with a glorious contemporary twist.

10 out of 10

>THE TALES OF HOFFMANN

The London Coliseum, London
8 March 2012



The Tales of Hoffmann - Offenbach gets put through the high art liquidiser and the results are surprisingly tasty. We had to be quick - this treat was only about for 9 performances!

Our first visit to the ENO (English National Opera)... and what a TRIP it has been!

Georgia Jarman stole the show with her incredibly different interpretations of the three leading female characters. Her take on Olympia, the mechanical doll, was genius! Barry Banks came across as if possessed by one of the 'Hairy Bikers'... perhaps this was the intention?

Director Richard Jones and designer Giles Cadle transport the audience into three wonderfully surreal fantasy realms - a brightly coloured 1950's child's fantasy of toys and puppets; a dark, Shelley-esque gothic world of phantoms and magic; and a clinical yet seedy world dominated by gamblers, painted whores, party children and a gigantic revolving shaving mirror that hides a life sized gorilla... and much, much more!

Before the performance, we went upstairs to the Sky Bar for a meal. Lovely food and very good service - shame the surroundings where not a little more in keeping with a night out at the opera - (felt a little like executive dining at Grace Brothers Dept. store)




Who told the story:
Hoffmann Barry Banks, Olympia/Antonia/Giulietta/Stella Georgia Jarman, Lindorff/Coppelius/Dapertutto/Dr Miracle Clive Bayley, Muse/Nicklausse Christine Rice, Frantz/Pittichinaccio/Cochenille Simon Butteriss, Crespel/Luther Graeme Danby

Who helped:
Conductor Antony Walker, Director Richard Jones, Set Designer Giles Cadle, Costume Designer Buki Shiff, Lighting Designer Mimi Jordan Sherin, Choreographer Lucy Burge, Translator Tim Hopkins





Look at me! see some of the incredible visual wonders from the performance

10 out of 10