31 JULY 1999, page 41

Music

Surprising direction Robin Holloway B y now, its tenth year, the short annual Almeida season of experimental chamber- operas has established itself, despite a per- sisting......

Opera

Smetana's diversions Michael Tanner S metana is so loveable and stirring a fig- ure in the history of music, and especially of opera, that I wish I could enjoy his most famous......