The Spidy Editor | Clare Varney - Page 8 of 12 - Music | Food

Nederlandse Reisopera faces the music and produces a most memorable Magic Flute

23 January 2023Music

The young Austrian tenor David Kerber with his magic flute © Marco Borggreve

Sometimes in life, even the best laid plans do not work as expected. This was the case for the Nederlandse Reisopera in their latest production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, a co-production…

Trifonov transfixes the audience with nuanced, highly addictive Beethoven

16 January 2023Music

Daniil Trifonov’s opening piano solo crept in before he dazzled us with his customary sparkling scales echoing the same orchestral lightness of touch. Passagework emerged from nowhere and blossomed with…

Jansen dazzles Antwerp in fine Prokofiev with Pappano and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe

1 January 2023Music

© Antwerp Symphony Orchestra | Jesse Willems

On stage tonight in Antwerp, Jansen proved to be a mesmerising soloist, and her partnership with Pappano, who was able to predict and shape each musical nuance with the greatest of ease (and all without a baton), was exquisite.

A well-crafted and impressive Mahler 3 from Claus Peter Flor and the Phion Orchestra

20 December 2022Music

Claus Peter Flor and Katerina Bradić inviting the post horn soloist, Bob Koerthuis, onto the stage to take the applause

We witnessed a perfectly executed climax in this most monumental of symphonies. This is the best performance I have heard from this orchestra, and I look forward to more!

Hardenberger, Wallroth and the Amsterdam Sinfonietta ooze class

11 December 2022Music

Håkan Hardenberger with the Swedish soprano, Johanna Wallroth © Clare Varney

There are concerts that surprise you, that you just can’t get out of your mind. Last night’s Bach inspired concert in Enschede, with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta under the direction of Tomo Kellers featuring Håkan Hardenberger and the young Swedish soprano Johanna Wallroth, was one such concert.

Gastrovino: luxury food items to tempt the taste buds

8 December 2022Food

Gastrovino is a local delicatessen with branches all over The Netherlands specialising in the very best food and drink from near and far.

Coffee District Willemsparkweg: a little gem!

28 November 2022Food

Nestled off the main road near the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, and all the big museums, this local coffee shop serves excellent coffee and pastries at prices which don’t require a sharp intake of breath.