Bawled my eyes out (in a good way!) tonight Opernhaus Zürich hearing my first La Rondine… Ermonela Jaho | Soprano and Benjamin Bernheim leading a cast on fire, giving us every emotion imaginable. Fabulous evening and so glad to have got a last minute return!

Will I ever hear a performance of Mahler 8 as good as the one I heard tonight BayerischeStaatsoper? The work simply flew by under Kirill Petrenko, with the amassed forces gleaming in this glorious acoustic. The soloists too - phwoar! Very, very lucky to have been there at #bso500 .

And a great Daphne it was too, for my first time seeing the work! Lovely to see you there :)

Laden with more luggage than normal, for a trip much longer than normal - it’s time to start my Study Abroad adventure Universität Jena. A massive challenge, but with so many opportunities (and so much valued culture…!) along the way to seize I can’t wait to get going.

Fabulous evening with some UoY G&S Society pals tonight seeing the Charles Court Opera Mikado Arcola Theatre - we absolutely loved it! Such an enjoyable, funny evening all round.

Over two remarkable evenings, I’ve heard some of the finest music ever written, played with such dedication it just had to succeed. The BayerischeStaatsoper certainly celebrated its 500th birthday in style Barbican Centre - danke für zwei unvergessliche Abende!

Back at the Barbican for the first time this season to ascend a towering edifice… No, not Cromwell tower but instead the alps of Bavaria in Strauss’s Eine Alpensinfonie with the Bayerische Staatsorchester!

After my latest trip away (returning armed with a new tote bag) normal service has resumed… snaffled a last minute return for the Royal Opera House Das Rheingold tonight! So looking forward to hearing the piece with full orchestra for the first time.

I think I’m a bit late to the party but boy did Sir Simon Rattle’s Mahler 9 tonight Enescu Festival with London Symphony Orchestra run the gamut of emotions. A performance I’ll remember for an awfully long time and that left me lost for words - a fitting end to his time as music director.

First time Salzburg Festival yesterday for Berliner Philharmoniker - such attention to detail lavished on Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben and Reger’s Mozart Variations by Petrenko and the Berliners.

Not sure on the ice cream cone condition (massive crack in the side) but it was welcome refreshment on the way to Semele at Glyndebourne today - Looking forward to my first Handel opera perfomance!

Perfect

Keeping it classy on the way to Glyndebourne…😂 Very excited to be seeing Carmelites tonight!

With some bad double booking by me, I have a ticket I can’t use for tonight’s Marriage of Figaro at Royal Opera House - thought I’d offer here if anyone here could make use of it?

Over the last three days, for my 21st, I’ve been inspired by Regents Opera’s Walküre, entertained by Glyndebourne’s Donizetti and touched by Royal Opera House’s Wozzeck. Such a variety but accessible to student me - who could possibly want to let this go …?

It’s tough for UK music now but the Opera North 23/24 season preview gave reason to be cheerful. Innovation in sustainability, a focus on ensemble casting & all coupled to 7 fantastic works (my fav included!) means I’ll have to take Garry Walker’s advice and “Keep Coming”!🎉