There are rare moments in classical music where you can quite literally witness a career begin. Sitting in the hall this spring, listening to the finalists of the Siemens–Hallé International Conductors Competition 2026, it felt very much like one of those moments. Held at the iconic The Bridgewater Hall, the competition has quickly established itself … Continue reading “Review on the Siemens–Hallé International Conductors Competition 2026”
Category: Review
Report on CamTAGS 2026 at Trinity College, Cambridge
On 30–31 March 2026, the historic courts of Trinity College, Cambridge, hosted the annual Theory and Analysis Graduate Students (TAGS) Conference, organised by the Society for Music Analysis (SMA). Bringing together postgraduate researchers from across the UK and beyond, CamTAGS 2026 offered not only a platform for presenting cutting-edge research, but also a welcoming and … Continue reading “Report on CamTAGS 2026 at Trinity College, Cambridge”
Rediscovering Celtic Heritage in Dublin: Musical Legacies across the Irish Sea
On 26–27 February 2026, I had the pleasure of participating in the international symposium Rediscovering Celtic Heritage: Musical Legacies across the Irish Sea, hosted at Trinity College Dublin . Set within the inspiring surroundings of the Trinity Long Room Hub Arts & Humanities Research Institute, the event brought together scholars, performers, and postgraduate researchers for … Continue reading “Rediscovering Celtic Heritage in Dublin: Musical Legacies across the Irish Sea”
Le Temps retrouvé: Reanimating Princess Zinaida Volkonskaya’s Salon in Paris
On 6 February 2026, in the elegant surroundings of the Conservatoire Rachmaninoff in Paris, the past felt startlingly close. Le Temps retrouvé: Salon Volkonskaïa was not simply a concert, but a carefully crafted reanimation of an early nineteenth-century world: the salon of Princess Zinaida Volkonskaya — writer, composer, singer, intellectual and one of the most … Continue reading “Le Temps retrouvé: Reanimating Princess Zinaida Volkonskaya’s Salon in Paris”
Reflections on Boris Godunov at the Royal Opera House
Attending Boris Godunov at the Royal Opera House in February 2026 felt less like witnessing a revived production and more like undergoing a prolonged psychological examination. This staging presented Mussorgsky’s original 1869 version, performed without an interval or the later additions that softened or expanded the opera’s architecture. The result was an uncompromising, concentrated experience … Continue reading “Reflections on Boris Godunov at the Royal Opera House”
UoB Research Students Take the Stage at the BFE/RMA Research Students’ Conference 2026
In early January 2026, Birmingham became a vibrant meeting point for emerging music scholars and creative practitioners, as the British Forum for Ethnomusicology and the Royal Musical Association welcomed researchers from across the UK and beyond for the BFE/RMA Research Students’ Conference (6–8 January 2026). Hosted at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, the three-day event offered an … Continue reading “UoB Research Students Take the Stage at the BFE/RMA Research Students’ Conference 2026”
Women, Archives and Forgotten Legacies: SEEM Conference Illuminates Eastern European Musical Voices
On 25 October, scholars from across Europe gathered at Senate House in London for the annual conference of the Study Group for Slavonic and East European Music (SEEM), held under the auspices of BASEES. The study day offered a compelling glimpse into the rich and often overlooked musical cultures of Eastern Europe, with a particular … Continue reading “Women, Archives and Forgotten Legacies: SEEM Conference Illuminates Eastern European Musical Voices”
The Expansive Canvas: Rethinking Large-Scale Form in the Music of 19th-Century Women Composers
Between 25–28 August 2025, Dublin became the stage for one of the most important gatherings in current musicological research: The Expansive Canvas: Large-Scale Form in the Music of 19th-Century Women Composers. Co-hosted by Trinity College Dublin and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, the conference brought together scholars, performers, educators, and industry leaders to examine … Continue reading “The Expansive Canvas: Rethinking Large-Scale Form in the Music of 19th-Century Women Composers”
Reimagining Nineteenth-Century Music: Reflections from York
At the end of July, the University of York played host to the 14th Biennial International Conference on Music in Nineteenth-Century Britain — an event that has become a highlight in the calendar for anyone working in this field. I was delighted to attend this year not only as a delegate but also as a … Continue reading “Reimagining Nineteenth-Century Music: Reflections from York”
Clementi House: London’s Hidden Salon of Musical Legends
Nestled on Kensington Church Street in west London, 128 Kensington Church Street—the Georgian townhome once belonging to Muzio Clementi (1752–1832)—is a remarkable living tribute to one of music history’s unsung innovators. Known as the ‘Father of the Pianoforte’ Clementi composed, taught, and built his name here between roughly 1811 and 1824. Today, the house remains … Continue reading “Clementi House: London’s Hidden Salon of Musical Legends”