thu 15/05/2025

David Nice

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Bio
The classical music and opera editor of theartsdesk, David writes, lectures and broadcasts on music. A former music critic for The Guardian and The Sunday Correspondent, he has made regular appearances on BBC Radio 3, not least in the long-running series Building a Library. He has written short studies on Elgar, Richard Strauss, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and the history of opera, and is currently working on the second volume of his Prokofiev biography for Yale University Press. He runs two Zoom lecture series, Opera in Depth on Mondays and a symphonies course on Thursdays.

Articles By David Nice

theartsdesk in Treviso - cultural patronage, Italian style

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Noye's Fludde, ENO/Theatre Royal Stratford East review - two-dimensional music theatre

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BBC Cardiff Singer of the World 2019 Final, BBC Four review - stage confidence, supportive set-up

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The Damned, Comédie-Française, Barbican review - slow-burn horrors in devastating images

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theartsdesk in Svalbard: cultural excellence at the top of the world

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Boris Godunov, Royal Opera review - cool and surgical, with periodic chills

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Hansel and Gretel, ENO, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre review - into the broomstick woods

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Cate Haste: Passionate Spirit - The Life of Alma Mahler review - a racy life pacily narrated

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Kozhukhin, RPO, Petrenko, RFH review - more cultured than electrifying

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Manon Lescaut, Opera Holland Park review - attempt to empower commodified woman falls flat

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Bauci e Filemone/Orfeo, Classical Opera, QEH review - a star Orpheus is born

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theartsdesk in Gothenburg: concert-hall storytelling rivets at the Point Music Festival

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The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare's Globe review - a gallimaufry of acting styles

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Phaedra, Linbury Theatre review - from confusing passion to blazing afterlife

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theartsdesk in Tallinn and Tartu: Estonian Music Days go global

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LSO, Rattle, Barbican review - inner magic eventually joins outward mastery

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It all started on 09/09/09. That memorable date, September 9 2009, marked the debut of theartsdesk.com.

It followed some...

1536, Almeida Theatre review - fast and furious portrayal of...

Ava Pickett’s award-winning début play, 1536, is a foul-mouthed, furious, frenetically funny ride through the lives of three young women...

The Comedy About Spies, Noel Coward Theatre review - 'G...

From the creative team that brought you The Play That Goes Wrong in 2012 (and assorted sequels) comes this spy caper. As ever...

Album: Billy Nomates - Metalhorse

Metalhorse is a concept album that uses visions of a dilapidated funfair as a metaphor for life’s various ups and downs. It especially...

House of Games, Hampstead Theatre review - adapted Mamet scr...

There is so much that is right about Jonathan Kent’s new production of House of Games – the casting, the staging, the...

Karim Said, Leighton House review - adventures from Byrd to...

William Byrd, Arnold Schoenberg and their respective acolytes go cheek by jowl, crash into one another, soothe, infuriate and shine in their very...

Album: MØ - Plæygirl

Danish singer MØ is a paradox. Initially she appeared to be another Scandi electro-pop princess of the bangers. The monster 2015 hit “Lean On”...

Stile Antico, Wigmore Hall review - a glorious birthday cele...

There was a wonderful festal spirit at the Wigmore Hall last night, as the vocal ensemble Stile Antico ran through a Greatest Hits selection in...

PUP, SWG3, Glasgow review - controlled chaos from Canadian p...

According to PUP lead singer Stefan Babcock, the Toronto foursome practiced together a grand total of twice before embarking on their current UK...

Zoe Lyons, Touring - midlife, without the crisis

Zoe Lyons knows her audience; as a few shoutouts confirmed, many of them are long-time fans, and have had lives with similar highs and...