With the South Bank, the Barbican and the Wigmore Hall offering
year-round appearances by generally first-rank musicians and
numerous smaller venues providing a stage for less established
or more specialized performers, the capital should satisfy
most devotees of classical music . What's more, in the annual
Promenade Concerts at the Royal Albert Hall, London has one
of Europe's greatest, most democratic music festivals.
While
the English National Opera quietly continues to try and
demolish the elitist stereotypes of opera , the Royal Opera
House continues to grab the headlines. After a long, costly
and painful period of rebuilding and refurbishment, the
ROH finally reopened at the end of 1999. Embarrassing technical
hitches meant that part of the initial programme of events
had to be cancelled, and ticket prices are still far too
high, but the new Floral Hall development has generally
been well-received.
The
more modest economics of dance mean that you'll often find
ambitious work on offer, with several adventurous companies
appearing sporadically, while fans of classicism can revel
in the Royal Ballet - as accomplished a company as any in
Europe.
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