Planet Hugill

Planet Hugill Online classical music magazine by London-based composer Robert Hugill with reviews, interviews

Planet Hugill is a London-based classical music blog written by composer, journalist and singer Robert Hugill, with regular contributions from Ruth Hansford. Both are performers, Robert composes and lectures on music, whilst Ruth's interests include surtitles, and noise & hearing. Thus both provided a unique perspective of composer/performer with the blog being known for its broad range and critic

al stance, yet written with sympathy from the performer and knowledge of the repertoire. There are up to four postings per day, with a combination of classical music news, previews of forthcoming events, reviews of Cd's and reviews of concerts, operas and other events, plus longer interviews, feature articles and opinion pieces. The blog covers classical music from early music through to contemporary in and around London, some from around the UK including many festivals, and the rest of the World, which might be of interest to our readers. The readership is UK based, London centred, but we cover a wider range than that. Reviews try to highlight emerging artists, and smaller companies along with the more unusual and quirky events London has to offer to reflect the diversity of contemporary classical musical life, whilst always reflecting a personal point of view with a particular interest in contemporary music. The blog is highly regarded in the classical music community and is regarded as essential reading for some classical music professionals. In 2013 Robert was named as one of Saga Magazine's Top 50 Bloggers Over 50.

As we wish everyone a Happy New Year, it is a time to look back at 2025 and celebrate. My review of the year:
01/01/2026

As we wish everyone a Happy New Year, it is a time to look back at 2025 and celebrate. My review of the year:

As we wish everyone a Happy New Year, it is a time to look back at 2025 and celebrate

2025 in Opera Reviews: rare Rameau, rarer Handel, the Barber in Benidorm, Iphigenia in Blackheath, Wagner at Holland Par...
31/12/2025

2025 in Opera Reviews: rare Rameau, rarer Handel, the Barber in Benidorm, Iphigenia in Blackheath, Wagner at Holland Park, Mary Queen of Scots returns, & Maria Stuarda in Salzburg as kinetic music theatre. My article:

2025 in Opera Reviews: rare Rameau, rarer Handel, the Barber in Benidorm, Iphigenia in Blackheath, Wagner at Holland Park, Mary Queen of Scots returns

2025 in Concert Reviews: women's voices, Barenboim defying age, rare melodrama, Ukraine at war, Big Baroque, and much-de...
30/12/2025

2025 in Concert Reviews: women's voices, Barenboim defying age, rare melodrama, Ukraine at war, Big Baroque, and much-delayed Bliss. My article:

2025 in Concert Reviews: women's voices, Barenboim defying age, rare melodrama, Ukraine at war, Big Baroque, & much-delayed Bliss

The unexaminable nature of how music touches the human experience: Manfred Honeck conducts Mahler’s 4th with New World S...
29/12/2025

The unexaminable nature of how music touches the human experience: Manfred Honeck conducts Mahler’s 4th with New World Symphony in Miami. Robert J Carreras' Letter From Florida:

Letter from Florida - review: Manfred Honeck conducts New World Symphony in Mahler’s 4th in Miami, Florida with Lauren Snouffer

Carrying the narrative strongly & directly: Solomon's Knot in Handel's Israel in Egypt at Wigmore Hall. My concert revie...
23/12/2025

Carrying the narrative strongly & directly: Solomon's Knot in Handel's Israel in Egypt at Wigmore Hall. My concert review:

Carrying the narrative so strongly & directly - concert review: Solomon's Knot in Handel's Israel in Egypt at Wigmore Hall

Well-upholstered & rather different: On Christmas Night from London Choral Sinfonia & Michael Waldron on Orchid Classics...
22/12/2025

Well-upholstered & rather different: On Christmas Night from London Choral Sinfonia & Michael Waldron on Orchid Classics with a new carol from Iain Farrington & orchestrations by Owain Park. My record review:

Well-upholstered & rather different -record review: On Christmas Night from London Choral Sinfonia & Michael Waldron on Orchid Classics

Christmas Megamix: Matthew O'Keeffe & Brixton Chamber Orchestra's final gig in its Christmas Estates Tour 2025 at Stockw...
22/12/2025

Christmas Megamix: Matthew O'Keeffe & Brixton Chamber Orchestra's final gig in its Christmas Estates Tour 2025 at Stockwell Park Community Trust . My article:

Christmas Megamix: Brixton Chamber Orchestra's final gig in its Christmas Estates Tour 2025

Opera Up-Close: Unveiling the Dramatic Process with Paul Curran coaching young singers in scenes from Mozart, Mascagni, ...
21/12/2025

Opera Up-Close: Unveiling the Dramatic Process with Paul Curran coaching young singers in scenes from Mozart, Mascagni, Donizetti & Jake Heggie at Palm Beach Opera. Robert J Carreras's latest Letter from Florida.

Letter from Florida - opera review: Opera Up-Close - Unveiling the Dramatic Process with Paul Curran at Palm Beach Opera

The extreme psychological approach weakened the dramaturgy: Handel's Ariodante returns to Royal Ballet And Opera Covent ...
20/12/2025

The extreme psychological approach weakened the dramaturgy: Handel's Ariodante returns to Royal Ballet And Opera Covent Garden in new production by Jetske Mijnssen with Jacquelyn Stucker, Emily D'Angelo, Elena Villalon, Christophe Dumaux, Ed Lyon, conductor Stefano Montanari. My review:

Psychological approach - opera review: Handel's Ariodante returns to Covent Garden directed by Jetske Mijnssen with Jacquelyn Stucker, Emily D'Angelo

Enjoying it for its own sake: there is much we don't know about 17th-century Exeter organist John Lugge but on this new ...
19/12/2025

Enjoying it for its own sake: there is much we don't know about 17th-century Exeter organist John Lugge but on this new disc Forbidden Fruit from Editions Hortus, William Whitehead leaves us engaged & intrigued. My record review:

Enjoying it for its own sake - review: organist William Whitehead in Forbidden Fruit, music by 17th c. Exeter organist John Lugge on Editions Hortus

Aldeburgh Festival 2026: our East Anglia-based correspondent Tony Cooper takes a deep dive into the delights on offer at...
19/12/2025

Aldeburgh Festival 2026: our East Anglia-based correspondent Tony Cooper takes a deep dive into the delights on offer at next year's festival. Britten Pears Arts. Tony's article:

The 77th edition of the Aldeburgh Festival comes round in flaming June while marking the 50th anniversary of Benjamin Britten’s death

Beyond St Cecilia: Purcell's large-scale ode alongside superb anthems by his contemporaries Humfrey & Blow from The Engl...
17/12/2025

Beyond St Cecilia: Purcell's large-scale ode alongside superb anthems by his contemporaries Humfrey & Blow from The English Concert & Harry Bicket at Wigmore Hall with Amy Carson, Alexander Chance, Anthony Gregory, Nicolas Brooymans. My review:

Beyond St Cecilia - review: Purcell's large-scale ode alongside superb anthems by his contemporaries Humfrey & Blow from The English Concert

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