Albert Ehrnrooth

Journalist, photographer and social commentator.

review

Titian (dit), Vecellio Tiziano (vers 1489-1576). Paris, musée du Louvre. INV746.

CHARLES I HAD A HEAD FOR ART

Did Charles I’s marvelous art collection play a part in his downfall and consequent execution? No other royal, apart from possibly George IV, devoted as much money and time to acquiring works of art. He may have lacked political nous […]

Axel Gallén's Lake Keitele (1905) may seem like a straightforward lake view, but there is much more to it. National Gallery, London

GALLÉN’S LAKE KEITELE AT THE THE NATIONAL GALLERY

Review of exhibition Lake Keitele, a vision of Finland at National Gallery, London. Until 4 February 2018. Have you ever heard of the Finnish artist Axel Gallén? Or does Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1930) ring a bell? I am impressed if you […]

Lampedusa cross by Francesco Tuccio and installation made of two drowned migrant children's shirts and recycled mudguards and burnt matches representing refugees coming across the Mediterranean in boats. Photo: Albert Ehrnrooth

IT IS ENTIRELY INEFFABLE

Living with gods: peoples, places and worlds beyond Exhibition at British Museum until 8 April 2018 If there was ever an exhibition worth the price of the entrance fee just for one object, then this is it. The opportunity to […]

YOUNG MUSICIANS SCALE THE HEIGHTS AT VERBIER FESTIVAL

I am not surprised that so many  musicians return to the Verbier Festival year after year. The top soloists probably don’t get paid as much as they normally would get for a concert, but the real carrot is that they […]

The hills are alive with the sound of Kissin

Verbier Festival  visited 25-28 July, 2017 Verbier in the south-western Swiss Alps offers pretty awesome views. The village, which during the high season turns into a town, lies at about 1500 metres.  But if it is truly spectacular panoramas you’re […]

Searing Kát’a Kabanová in Holland Park

Seen July 21, 2017  in Holland Park, London Leoš Janáček’s obsession with a woman almost 40 years his junior can seem very unattractive on paper. But Kamila Stösslová didn’t seem to care much one way or another. And Janáček’s (unrequited?) […]

Alisa Weilerstein premieres Outscape at the BBC Proms, Photo: Harold Hoffmann

ALISA WEILERSTEIN CHAMPIONS THE NEW

Interview with Alisa Weilerstein at the Royal Albert Hall, London, July 2017 The American cellist Alisa Weilerstein could probably tour the world playing the cello concertos of Elgar, Dvorak, Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich ad infinitum. You can still build a career […]

Jenufa - Janacek - Grange Park Opera at West Horsley Place - 11th June 2017

MOVING JENUFA at WEST HORSLEY PLACE

Jenůfa by Leoš Janáček, seen July  2017  Grange Park Opera, Theatre in the Woods at West Horsley Place. Janáček’s associated his opera Jenůfa with both the death of his young son Vladimir and the slow and tortuous illness that took […]

ROSSINI OPERA IS A TURKISH DELIGHT

Il Turco in Italia, music: Gioachino Rossini libretto: Felice Romani, seen at Wormsley, Garsington Opera,  2 July 2017 It is the vitality of Il Turco in Italia’s overture, with its wonderful plaintive horn solo, that immediately sucks you into Rossini’s […]

ALBERT HERRING IS SERIOUSLY FUNNY

Albert Herring, music: Benjamin Britten, libretto:Eric Crozier, seen at The Grange Festival , June 25 2017 Why did Benjamin Britten not write more comedy operas? On the evidence of this Grange Festival production he was clearly seriously good at being […]

SALES AT TEFAF CONFIRM UPWARD TREND

TEFAF,  10-19 March, 2017, Maastricht Art fairs are essential for the dealers. This is where nowadays most of the networking with clients, colleagues and museum curators is done. It is also the best place for the art tourist with a […]

Highly relevant Death in Venice

Benjamin Britten’s last opera, seen at Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 23 June 2015 Benjamin Britten composed Death in Venice, based on Thomas Mann’s much admired novella, knowing that he didn’t have long to live. He prioritised composing the opera over […]