The Flying Dutchman is a brilliant story.  It is just so spooky, and what with ships, a chorus of ghostly sailors, storms at sea, and a tortured, driven soul just dying to die, it is surely well suited to operatic treatment!  I was lucky enough to see Bryn Terfel in the title role a couple of years ago (in Tim Albery's production for the Royal Opera House), and I will never forget the chill in my spine when he made his first appearance.  Saturday night at English National Opera, Jonathan Kent's production couldn't live up to that seminal experience; perhaps the huge set was just too big and static to evoke the movement that is so evident in the music.  In fact, just listening to it, you sort of start to sway.  The lighting, though, and the projection, was brilliant.  But I'm still holding on to that night I heard Bryn.

Went to Camille at The Junction last night.  I love The Junction, it's a great venue; intimate, professional, full of spirit.  And Camille was brilliant.  She's a showgirl!  I wish classical music had the same production values, the same dedication to putting on a show, it makes such a difference.  My favourite songs were 'Amsterdam' and 'The Crack of Doom'.  A little hint into my tastes - perhaps not as upbeat as the rest of this website would have you believe!  Oh well.