Another outing for Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella's first shot at staging an opera, with soprano Judith Howarth in the title role, a geisha who gives up everything for dashing American Lieutenant Pinkerton, only to be abandoned and then cruelly betrayed. Puccini's accessible, passionate score has made this one of the most popular operas in the repertoire and the lush setting is ideal material for Minghella and his wife Carolyn Choa, whose choreography displays the formality and power of Far Eastern theatre traditions. There's some stunning imagery with a ballet sequence surrounded by showers of cherry blossom and Japanese lanterns bringing the exotic setting into dramatic focus. Han Feng's extravagant costumes bathe the stage in a riot of seductive colour while a huge angled mirror above the stage lets audiences glimpse an alternative and sometimes hidden world. The production was named the best new opera at the 2006 Olivier Awards and it remains a dazzling realisation of this well-loved masterpiece.
The English National Opera's love affair with Puccini continues with this new production of his musically rich swansong Turandot. Another innovative director Rupert Goold follows ...More
Like unwrapping a Christmas present or wandering through a dream, The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum has all the wide-eyed suspense of something unexpected about ...More
This famous Grade II listed Victorian railway hotel has been totally refurbished, from the bars and restaurants to all 239 rooms, providing every modern convenience ... More
Overlooking Leicester Square - the setting for London’s regular film premieres - the Radisson Edwardian Hampshire has glamorous, exclusive décor to match its high-profile setting: ... More
This historic church of St Martin-in-the-Fields overlooking Trafalgar Square was designed by James Gibbs and built in 1726. It houses a glorious eaterie ... More
The National Gallery dominates London's Trafalgar Square with its neo-classical columns and portico designed by William Wilkins adjoining the square on its east side where ... More
From budding Harry Potters and bumbling Tommy Coopers to dynamic David Copperfields, Davenports is a haven for magicians of every level and ability. Non-magicians too ... More
Intrepid explorers already know where to travel for the best selection of maps and travel books. Stanford's should be the first pit stop on any ... More
Katana has all the right ingredients for success. An amazing location, highly trained chefs and slick décor combine to create an oasis of elegance amid ... More
The venue is chic and dominated by fat, cylindrical pillars, each quirkily adorned with a different element. Situated within Morgans Hotel Group's fashionable St Martins ... More
The Courtauld is one of the most prestigious art schools in the country, affiliated with the Oxbridge system and boasting a huge private location and ... More
Imperial College London is the foremost medical training faculty in the country but for non-medical graduates wishing for a change of career, King’s is the ... More
This day spa exclusively for women is a total pampering experience from the minute you step through the door. Located in bustling Covent Garden you'll ... More
In the shadow of both Centrepoint and St Giles-in-the-Fields Church, hidden from most tourists and residents alike, lies this beautiful West End garden. Originally a ... More
Part Victorian pub, part museum dedicated to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous sleuth.
Thirsty Sherlock Holmes fans look no further than this homage to the ... More
This
was once a sleazy Soho strip club, as the name suggests, and it really
shows. Deep reds are the dominant colour, with mirrors, booths and
velvet curtains ... More
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