L’heure espagnole/The Bear review – Scottish opera pairs Ravel with Walton in pacy pantomimic staging

St Mary’s Church, Haddington, East LothianJacopo Spirei’s double-bill of Ravel’s L’heure espagnole and William Walton’s The Bear is huge fun, with baritone Daniel Barrett particularly impressiveFrom the perfectly enunciated “Merde!” with which Jamie MacDougall’s cuckolded clockmaker Torquemada prefaces the overture to Ravel’s L’heure espagnole, this double-bill pairing the knockabout farce of infidelity with Walton’s lesser-known work is enormous fun.MacDougall, a company stalwart, is the most experienced in a cast of current and recent Scottish Opera Emerging Artists, but the youth of the singers belies the depth of the characterisation they brought to Jacopo Spirei’s staging (adapted to fit the restrictions of St Mary’s church) that made musical and theatrical sense of the pairing. Continue reading...

Comments

Culture

Hayley Williams clarifies Paramore’s future following new solo album

Independent

Comments

Culture

Hayley Williams clarifies Paramore’s future following new solo album

Major Hollywood studio sues AI generator Midjourney over copyright theft of iconic characters

Steven Spielberg ‘turned down by Call of Duty film’ after demands

‘Scariest horror film’ that won’t ever join streaming gets rare UK screenings

Netflix viewers can now watch ‘nerve-shredding’ Australian thriller based on unsettling true story

Hayley Williams shuts down Paramore break up rumours

Performers unveiled for Ozzy Osbourne tribute at the VMAs

How Taylor Swift became a lucky charm for the soccer team hosting the Chiefs-Chargers game in Brazil

One of David Bowie’s final unrealised musical projects to go on display

‘Ridiculous and gory’ dinosaur film finally has streaming release date

Drama hailed ‘best movie of the last 20 years’ streaming for free on BBC

Why The Paper might be better than The Office

Charlie Sheen claims he was extorted by male sexual partners during the height of his drug abuse

Sheinelle Jones makes emotional Today show return after husband’s death: ‘I’m fighting for my joy’

The Truth About Jussie Smollett is madder than anyone expected

Suede: Antidepressants review — an electrifying, life-saving record

Autograph book with signatures from the Beatles and the Stones to be sold

New Sky series The Paper gave me an existential crisis – but I want more

Cancel your weekend plans to binge series that’s left viewers ‘wanting more’

Is AJ Lee coming back to WWE on SmackDown tonight? What we know

Worried about the new Wuthering Heights? Stream ‘the best adaptation’ for free instead

Actor Zachary Hart names the comedy series which felt like it came from ‘aliens’

Charlie Sheen issues public plea to Jon Cryer after documentary appearance

The US Open is hotter than Coachella. That’s what makes it awful.

Cardi B ‘denied’ herself a Super Bowl Halftime performance

Darth Vader’s lightsaber breaks Star Wars record during film prop auction

Justin Bieber releases new album just weeks after last record

Ganavya: Daughter of a Temple at the Barbican review — moved people to tears

Every Lara Croft film fans can stream for free ahead of Amazon Prime series

Acclaimed comedy Bad Sisters reportedly axed after two seasons

Ronan Keating reveals when planned Boyzone reunion could take place

Gogglebox shake-up sees five new families and friends added for new series

Macaulay Culkin thanks John Candy for noticing his father was a ‘monster’

Sydney Sweeney shuts down question about jeans controversy at movie premiere

Radiohead's shocking boycott set to hit tour sales – here’s why and how to get tickets fast amid the drama

Darth Vader lightsaber prop sells for £2.7m at auction

Ronan Keating reveals Boyzone will ‘try’ to reunite in 2026

The White Lotus season four will reportedly be filmed in France

Radiohead tour: How to register for tickets and what time they go on sale

Hugh Bonneville interrupts live TV interview with urgent Gaza plea

Gogglebox shake-up sees five new families and friends added for new series

Eric Idle: ‘Monty Python spats are a pity – but I haven’t done any spitting’

'My mother was my shelter and storm': Arundhati Roy on her fierce new memoir

My best, worst and weirdest movies of the 2025 Venice Film Festival

Channing Tatum’s failed Thor audition left him with invaluable acting advice

Lady Gaga issues statement over ‘agonising decision’ to cancel Miami show minutes before start time

Big Thief: Double Infinity review – Band’s latest work is another instant classic

Will Smith’s career comeback has been a disaster – but does the punishment fit the crime?

Rosie O’Donnell hits back at Trump with Epstein dig after president threatens to revoke her citizenship

Star Trek actor left ‘enraged’ about sci-fi show’s first-ever musical episode

Justin Bieber is already teasing a follow-up to his new album ‘Swag’

SNL alum Jorma Taccone left unable to walk after 20-foot fall from ladder

Annabelle doll handler’s cause of death finally revealed months after ‘haunted’ tour

A clash of the comebacks: Anisimova outlasts Osaka in the U.S. Open semifinals

‘I’m in The Office spin-off – I’m frightened fans will be disappointed in me’

Dancing with the Stars season 34: Full cast and partners unveiled featuring Hilaria Baldwin and Corey Feldman

New faces join Channel 4's Gogglebox line-up

David Bowie’s secret final project discovered locked in his study

Trump Is Exploring Ways to Take Over the Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum

The Paper actor Domhnall Gleeson tells viewers: ‘We’re not bringing The Office back’