Mark Valencia 🇪🇺 🇺🇦
@markvalencia.bsky.social
Critic for Opera, Bachtrack and Musical America. 7 decades a Southender. Francophile, grandfather, passionately pro-EU. Previously with the blue bird until it got sick. Much happier here.
Watching a bit of football for a change. No wonder @arsenalfc.bsky.social are doing so well: they're managed by Captain Black. #Mysterons
November 30, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Watching a bit of football for a change. No wonder @arsenalfc.bsky.social are doing so well: they're managed by Captain Black. #Mysterons
3 years ago I took my seat for a new opera that didn't sound like my thing at all. Still, open minds and all that.
Two hours later I was pinned to my seat, convinced (as I still am) that I'd witnessed the passing of the baton.
Now Last Days by Oliver Leith is back at the ROH. Don't miss it.
Two hours later I was pinned to my seat, convinced (as I still am) that I'd witnessed the passing of the baton.
Now Last Days by Oliver Leith is back at the ROH. Don't miss it.
November 28, 2025 at 11:24 AM
3 years ago I took my seat for a new opera that didn't sound like my thing at all. Still, open minds and all that.
Two hours later I was pinned to my seat, convinced (as I still am) that I'd witnessed the passing of the baton.
Now Last Days by Oliver Leith is back at the ROH. Don't miss it.
Two hours later I was pinned to my seat, convinced (as I still am) that I'd witnessed the passing of the baton.
Now Last Days by Oliver Leith is back at the ROH. Don't miss it.
"You will be visited by three spirits"
November 26, 2025 at 8:31 PM
"You will be visited by three spirits"
Hie thee to the RCM to see their stunning Little Vixen. Honestly, you won't regret it.
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
November 26, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Hie thee to the RCM to see their stunning Little Vixen. Honestly, you won't regret it.
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
(And I do love the Britten Theatre.)
Telling juxtaposition on the @bbc website
November 23, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Telling juxtaposition on the @bbc website
Well I'll have a go...
November 21, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Well I'll have a go...
Interval time at the Coliseum.
I still have doubts over the tone of Dead Man Walking (it descends too easily into maudlin musical schmaltz for my taste, given the subject matter) but I couldn't imagine it being better staged than it is here by Annilese Miskimmon for ENO. A tremendous company show.
I still have doubts over the tone of Dead Man Walking (it descends too easily into maudlin musical schmaltz for my taste, given the subject matter) but I couldn't imagine it being better staged than it is here by Annilese Miskimmon for ENO. A tremendous company show.
November 18, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Interval time at the Coliseum.
I still have doubts over the tone of Dead Man Walking (it descends too easily into maudlin musical schmaltz for my taste, given the subject matter) but I couldn't imagine it being better staged than it is here by Annilese Miskimmon for ENO. A tremendous company show.
I still have doubts over the tone of Dead Man Walking (it descends too easily into maudlin musical schmaltz for my taste, given the subject matter) but I couldn't imagine it being better staged than it is here by Annilese Miskimmon for ENO. A tremendous company show.
All these trigger warnings for Dead Man Walking. The last one is making me nervous.
November 18, 2025 at 6:17 PM
All these trigger warnings for Dead Man Walking. The last one is making me nervous.
While in Paris I had this sublime lamb shank tajine followed by a dame blanche for dessert, dear Mark, so nothing you can say impresses me after that.
November 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
While in Paris I had this sublime lamb shank tajine followed by a dame blanche for dessert, dear Mark, so nothing you can say impresses me after that.
To Battersea Arts Centre tonight for the latest offering by @gothicopera.bsky.social, who had a terrific 2024 with Der Vampyr and Maria de Rudenz.
Offenbach tonight: a rare chance to hear the famous Barcarolle in its original guise within the rustic romance Die Rheinnixen.
Reviewing for Opera.
Offenbach tonight: a rare chance to hear the famous Barcarolle in its original guise within the rustic romance Die Rheinnixen.
Reviewing for Opera.
October 30, 2025 at 8:01 AM
To Battersea Arts Centre tonight for the latest offering by @gothicopera.bsky.social, who had a terrific 2024 with Der Vampyr and Maria de Rudenz.
Offenbach tonight: a rare chance to hear the famous Barcarolle in its original guise within the rustic romance Die Rheinnixen.
Reviewing for Opera.
Offenbach tonight: a rare chance to hear the famous Barcarolle in its original guise within the rustic romance Die Rheinnixen.
Reviewing for Opera.
Ted Huffman is a bold and imaginative choice as the new General Director of the Aix-en-Provence Festival. Terrific news!
October 27, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Ted Huffman is a bold and imaginative choice as the new General Director of the Aix-en-Provence Festival. Terrific news!
Drop an old person you're going to turn into in the future.
(Not messing about on this one)
(Not messing about on this one)
October 27, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Drop an old person you're going to turn into in the future.
(Not messing about on this one)
(Not messing about on this one)
'Analysis' by Sky News that fails to analyse just how loyally Sky News has facilitated the public profile of Reform. Desperate stuff.
October 3, 2025 at 12:35 PM
'Analysis' by Sky News that fails to analyse just how loyally Sky News has facilitated the public profile of Reform. Desperate stuff.
A delightful lunchtime recital by Jeffery Wilson, my dear friend of 44 years standing, who is still a magician with a clarinet plus a few saxophones.
September 17, 2025 at 1:07 PM
A delightful lunchtime recital by Jeffery Wilson, my dear friend of 44 years standing, who is still a magician with a clarinet plus a few saxophones.
I saw this majestic play three times during its first West End run. If I described the plot it wouldn't mean much but I guarantee you'll be a swamp of emotions by the end. You don't see it coming, then wham!
The best play written in my lifetime imho. #TheWeir
The best play written in my lifetime imho. #TheWeir
September 1, 2025 at 10:18 PM
I saw this majestic play three times during its first West End run. If I described the plot it wouldn't mean much but I guarantee you'll be a swamp of emotions by the end. You don't see it coming, then wham!
The best play written in my lifetime imho. #TheWeir
The best play written in my lifetime imho. #TheWeir
Just the show for a chamber venue. I'm oddly excited about it...
August 15, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Just the show for a chamber venue. I'm oddly excited about it...
If you have a spare tuppence to buy the September edition of Opera mag, there are six reviews by me inside plus endless delights by other hands. It's a bumper issue!
August 4, 2025 at 8:35 PM
If you have a spare tuppence to buy the September edition of Opera mag, there are six reviews by me inside plus endless delights by other hands. It's a bumper issue!
Irrational terror... I don't know when I was last as shaken as today, when I stood on the glass floor at the top of Tower Bridge and looked down.
Grandson #1 (aged 5¾) took it in his stride, as you can see.
Grandson #1 (aged 5¾) took it in his stride, as you can see.
August 1, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Irrational terror... I don't know when I was last as shaken as today, when I stood on the glass floor at the top of Tower Bridge and looked down.
Grandson #1 (aged 5¾) took it in his stride, as you can see.
Grandson #1 (aged 5¾) took it in his stride, as you can see.
Something I rarely say: I wish I could pay an immediate return visit to Louise at the Aix Festival. Christof Loy's psychologically probing production... Stunning.
Tonight, though, I'm off to Arles for the first night of The Nine Jewelled Deer, a chamber
opera directed by Peter Sellars.
Tonight, though, I'm off to Arles for the first night of The Nine Jewelled Deer, a chamber
opera directed by Peter Sellars.
July 6, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Something I rarely say: I wish I could pay an immediate return visit to Louise at the Aix Festival. Christof Loy's psychologically probing production... Stunning.
Tonight, though, I'm off to Arles for the first night of The Nine Jewelled Deer, a chamber
opera directed by Peter Sellars.
Tonight, though, I'm off to Arles for the first night of The Nine Jewelled Deer, a chamber
opera directed by Peter Sellars.
Homework, from the Valencia vaults...
June 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Homework, from the Valencia vaults...
A divinely warm evening at Layer Marney Tower for Wild Arts Opera.
Overheard a punter explaining why he'd enjoyed The Elixir of Love: "No one died and there was a happy ending".
Eugene Onegin should be just the thing, then.
Overheard a punter explaining why he'd enjoyed The Elixir of Love: "No one died and there was a happy ending".
Eugene Onegin should be just the thing, then.
June 19, 2025 at 3:26 PM
A divinely warm evening at Layer Marney Tower for Wild Arts Opera.
Overheard a punter explaining why he'd enjoyed The Elixir of Love: "No one died and there was a happy ending".
Eugene Onegin should be just the thing, then.
Overheard a punter explaining why he'd enjoyed The Elixir of Love: "No one died and there was a happy ending".
Eugene Onegin should be just the thing, then.
Just been wowed by this stormy Peter Grimes, not for the 1st time.
I was in the Maltings for the concert that gave rise both to Grimes on the Beach + this Signum set.
Best narrative/dramatic version, miraculous baton work by Steuart Bedford and in Giselle Allen the finest Ellen Orford on record.
I was in the Maltings for the concert that gave rise both to Grimes on the Beach + this Signum set.
Best narrative/dramatic version, miraculous baton work by Steuart Bedford and in Giselle Allen the finest Ellen Orford on record.
May 28, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Just been wowed by this stormy Peter Grimes, not for the 1st time.
I was in the Maltings for the concert that gave rise both to Grimes on the Beach + this Signum set.
Best narrative/dramatic version, miraculous baton work by Steuart Bedford and in Giselle Allen the finest Ellen Orford on record.
I was in the Maltings for the concert that gave rise both to Grimes on the Beach + this Signum set.
Best narrative/dramatic version, miraculous baton work by Steuart Bedford and in Giselle Allen the finest Ellen Orford on record.
It's a two-concert day at the Aix Easter Festival.
- The Belcea Quartet plays Mozart and Beethoven
- Gautier Capuçon performs Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1, with Schubert's 9th Symphony played by the Pablo Casals Festival Orchestra under Pierre Bleuse.
Reviewing both for Musical America.
- The Belcea Quartet plays Mozart and Beethoven
- Gautier Capuçon performs Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1, with Schubert's 9th Symphony played by the Pablo Casals Festival Orchestra under Pierre Bleuse.
Reviewing both for Musical America.
April 25, 2025 at 10:12 AM
It's a two-concert day at the Aix Easter Festival.
- The Belcea Quartet plays Mozart and Beethoven
- Gautier Capuçon performs Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1, with Schubert's 9th Symphony played by the Pablo Casals Festival Orchestra under Pierre Bleuse.
Reviewing both for Musical America.
- The Belcea Quartet plays Mozart and Beethoven
- Gautier Capuçon performs Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 1, with Schubert's 9th Symphony played by the Pablo Casals Festival Orchestra under Pierre Bleuse.
Reviewing both for Musical America.