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Luciano Pavarotti was born 90 years ago today in Modena. A great tenor – in all senses – his voice was like golden sunshine. I was lucky enough to see him three times, twice in Tosca – a wonderful Cavaradossi. He left so many great recordings. Your favourites?

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 1d

Charity shop vinyl discovery: Huguette Tourangeau singing rarities by Balfe, Bizet, Auber, Vaccai and others. I had no idea this album existed.

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 1d

Autumn stroll, listening to the new Lucia di Lammermoor 🍂

Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 3d

Buon compleanno, Giuseppe! 🥳 My top ten Verdi playlist... bachtrack.com/playlist-top...

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 3d

It’s good to see Calixto Bieito’s Carmen back at the Coli, but...
www.thetimes.com/culture/clas...

Carmen at the Coliseum review — still the finest version of Bizet’s opera

Calixto Bieito’s testosterone-fuelled production packs a punch, but a wide-open set swallows some of the voices

www.thetimes.com

Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 4d

At the Coli for the return of Calixto Bieito’s Carmen

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 4d

Taylor Swift, eat your heart out: my @thetimes.com review of Handel's Giustino, back at Covent Garden for the first time since 1737 @lanuovamusica.bsky.social

www.thetimes.com/culture/clas...

Giustino review — Taylor Swift, eat your heart out

Mireille Asselin glitters as an empress and a showgirl in Handel’s opera about a sea monster, vividly realised at the Linbury Theatre

www.thetimes.com

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 6d

My review of an intense Rape of Lucretia for English Touring Opera @etopera.bsky.social
www.thetimes.com/culture/clas...

The Rape of Lucretia review — thrilling drama in a harrowing tale

Robin Norton-Hale’s intense production for English Touring Opera is a fine ambassador for Benjamin Britten’s ‘problem child’

www.thetimes.com

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 8d

A Wilde afternoon ahead…

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 9d

You're not donning your oatmeal slippers in Hackney, then?

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Reposted by Mark Pullinger

Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 @markvalencia.bsky.social · 12d

Have you seen John Bridcut's bio-doc on Delius? It's a probing, revelatory 2012 film on BBC4. I've been blown away by it. 'Delius: Composer, Lover, Enigma'. Do search it out.

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 9d

I enjoyed this very much. Shall fish out my Beecham discs. And how wonderful to see Andrew Davis waxing lyrical.

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Reposted by Mark Pullinger

UK Critics' Circle Music @ccmusicuk.bsky.social · 10d

Here's Claudia Pritchard's write up of the Critics' Circle Music Awards 2025:
criticscircle.org.uk/music-awards...

Music Awards 2025, celebrating a year of outstanding achievement | The Critics' Circle

More than 80 leading figures from across Britain’s musical landscape came together at the sparkling Critics’ Circle Music Awards, held at the London Coliseum, a ceremony that honoured musicians who ma...

criticscircle.org.uk

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 11d

Even at the age of five, I fell for Lesley Judd...

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 11d

Another fab Vêpres! Great to see it up close and personal!

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 14d

Pretty much perfect Tosca casting (although Sonya Yoncheva in February was more vividly characterised and diva-ish). Glad the stage machinery was working last night – Thursday's Act 2 had to play in front of the curtain, apparently.

Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 15d

Tosca livestream this evening!
play.wiener-staatsoper.at/event/899891...

Wiener Staatsoper

play.wiener-staatsoper.at

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 16d

Rossinian farce at its best: I really enjoyed L’occasione fa il ladro at the Kammeroper last night
www.gramophone.co.uk/opera-now/re...

Rossini: L’occasione fa il ladro at the Kammeroper | Live Review

This rollicking production reveals Rossini’s one-act opera as a little gem

www.gramophone.co.uk

Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 16d

Morning visit to the House of Strauss:

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 17d

“I don’t write for Pravda, but for myself.”
Dmitri Shostakovich was born OTD in 1906. Enjoy my top ten playlist, plus a clip of the composer playing the piano:
bachtrack.com/playlist-top...

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 19d

Boris Godunov at Dutch National Opera, Louise at Festival d'Aix and Maria Stuarda at the Salzburg Festival and Teatro Real all reviewed in my Gramophone column: www.gramophone.co.uk/features/art...

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Mark Pullinger @larkingrumple.bsky.social · 20d

Lotte de Beer’s Zauberflöte entrances a young Volksoper audience, My review for Opera Now:
www.gramophone.co.uk/opera-now/re...

Mozart: Magic Flute at the Volksoper | Live Review

The young audience here was completely transfixed

www.gramophone.co.uk

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