Tag: Press

Great reviews for FATFBR at the Southbank Centre

2 February 2024

The Faggots and their Friends Between Revolutions completed its four-night run at the Southbank Centre last week to packed, lively audiences. Here is a selection of the reviews, all very positive. “a stripped-back, intensely emotional production […] an intelligent and…

Press coverage of Faggots and their Friends at Manchester International Festival

4 July 2023

‘The Faggots and their Friends Between Revolutions‘ received its world premiere on 29th June 2023 at HOME Theatre as part of Manchester International Festival. There were some notable previews in The Guardian and the New York Times and an introductory…

Below the Belt one of BBC Music Magazine’s ’30 must-have albums’

30 September 2022

BBC Music Magazine is celebrating its 30th Birthday this year, and as part of the celebrations they have chosen Below The Belt as one of their 30 “Must-Have Albums of our Lifetime”. In the week when the UK’s financial and…

Excellent reviews for Denis & Katya in Hannover

5 July 2022

The German premiere of Denis & Katya happened earlier this year, in a new german-language version of the opera, commissioned by the Niedersächsische Staatsoper in Hannover. The production took place in Ballhof Eins, and featured two singers from the young…

5 stars for Denis & Katya in Amsterdam

15 March 2022

The Dutch premiere of Denis & Katya took place on Friday at Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, as part of the Opera Forward Festival. It was performed by Inna Demenkova and Michael Wilmering, with cellists of the Residentie Orkest The…

Reviews of 4.48 Psychosis with Intercontemporain / Pintscher

22 December 2021

The Festival d’Automne à Paris and Ensemble Intercontemporain gave a concert performance of 4.48 Psychosis on 16th December 2021. The concert was part of the Festival feature about my work, and took place in the Cité de la Musique in…

Glowing Reviews for Denis & Katya in Montpellier

6 August 2021

Denis & Katya made its french premiere a few weeks ago in a new french-language version at the Opéra National Montpellier. The production featured soprano Chloé Briot and baritone Elliot Madore, and cellists from the Orchestre National Montpellier. Ted Huffman…

Reviews for MTW tour of Denis & Katya

15 March 2020

Music Theatre Wales tour of Denis & Katya is now complete. The show went to Newport, Mold and Aberystwyth in Wales, followed by two nights at the Purcell Room in the Southbank Centre, London. Unfortunately the scheduled performance in Cardiff…

4.48 Psychosis and Denis & Katya among the ‘best of the decade’ or ‘best of 2019’

31 December 2019

Both 4.48 Psychosis and Denis & Katya have appeared in a number of ‘Best of 2019’ or ‘Best of the Decade’ lists. Here is a selection: 4.48 Psychosis at the top of the list of Alex Ross’ Best Performances of…

Marvellous reviews for French debut of 4.48 Psychosis

1 October 2019

The French premiere of 4.48 Psychosis took place 18-22 September 2019 at the Opéra National du Rhin in Strasbourg, in collaboration with the Musica Festival. The Royal Opera production was performed by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and Sound Intermedia…

“Spellbinding” — reviews for Denis & Katya

30 September 2019

We sent Denis & Katya out into the world on 18th September at the premiere at Suzanne Roberts Theater in Philadelphia with Opera Philadephia. Scored for just two singers, four cellos and pre-recorded sound and video, the 65-minute pseudo-verbatim opera…

Rave reviews for 4.48 Psychosis in NYC

28 January 2019

4.48 Psychosis made its american premiere in New York City a few weeks ago at the Prototype Festival. The exceptional cast, orchestra and crew gave six performances of the Royal Opera production (directed by Ted Huffman) over eight days in…

Successful premiere for ‘Venables plays Bartók’ at the BBC Proms

3 September 2018

Venables plays Bartók, my new violin concerto written for Pekka Kuusisto, received a warm response at its premiere at the BBC Proms on Friday 17th August, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sakari Oramo. A huge thanks to Pekka, Sakari, the…

Outstanding reviews for the revival of 4.48 Psychosis

1 June 2018

The recent performances of the Royal Opera production of 4.48 Psychosis have come to an end. We didn’t expect much press for a revival, of course, but the reviews there have been have been outstanding. The performances took place at…

Stellar reviews for 4.48 Psychosis with the Royal Opera

6 July 2016

The critics’ response to the world premiere of 4.48 Psychosis has been incredible. 4.48 Psychosis is my first finished opera, produced by the Royal Opera at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith in April and May 2016. Here are some excerpts from the…

Bound to Hurt press reviews

5 July 2016

Here’s a selection of press reviews for Bound to Hurt, a music theatre collaboration with Douglas Gordon and Ruth Rosenfeld, which played in Hamburg, Berlin and Basel in 2015/16. I’ve given a rough translation of the excerpts. Nachtkritik Die Popsongs…

Wonderful reviews of numbers 76-80 : tristan und isolde

7 October 2011

numbers 76-80 : tristan und isolde was performed brilliantly by EXAUDI and Endymion under the direction of James Weeks on Monday 19th September. I was really delighted, and the Purcell Room at Southbank was pretty busy too. There was a wonderful…

…dark and violent, and so so gay.

26 August 2011

Last week’s performance of Fuck Forever was reviewed by www.sosogay.com. “There were some really great little works in among the chaff….. Philip Venables’ Fuck Forever managed to tease out a dark and violent portrait of sexual desire.” Definitely a line I will…