Author: andreagaini

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Acis and Galatea review: an ethusiastic and cheerful cast pulls off a difficult opera

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Vittoria Zerbini This year, the Cardiff University Operatic Society (CUOS) has decided to stage Acis and Galatea by H├ñndel as their yearly production. Acis and Galatea is an opera that, since 1718, has encountered much success and many adaptations, even from big names of the music scene such as Mozart, who staged his vision of the pastoral opera in 1788. Acis and Galatea … Continue reading Acis and Galatea review: an ethusiastic and cheerful cast pulls off a difficult opera

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Culture

“Acis and Galatea”: Cardiff University Operatic SocietyÔÇÖs take on the English classic pastoral opera

by Vittoria Zerbini The Cardiff University Operatic Society has, ever since its emergence, staged many concerts. A few examples are the 2011 H├ñndelÔÇÖs Messiah or the 2014 Mozart’s Die Zauberfl├Âte. This yearÔÇÖs production is a nod to the societyÔÇÖs beginnings with H├ñndelÔÇÖs Acis and Galatea. Acis and Galatea was written between 1717 and 1718 by H├ñndel, who composed the music, and John Gay, who wrote … Continue reading “Acis and Galatea”: Cardiff University Operatic SocietyÔÇÖs take on the English classic pastoral opera

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Culture

Sunset Boulevard review: soaring melodies and exquisite acting

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Esther Morris As an avid musical theatre fan, it is not an easy thing for me to admit that I was not all too familiar with Sunset Boulevard before seeing the touring production at the Wales Millennium Centre; however, I certainly left with the soaring melodies stuck in my head and the feeling that I could have happily watched it again the following … Continue reading Sunset Boulevard review: soaring melodies and exquisite acting

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Culture

CREATIVE CONTEST: “Very Swish” by Bethan Rose Jenkins

Our Creative Contest was very popular and brought to our eyes some great pieces of literature; here is another one of them, a short story about a “very swish” car drive. Enjoy! Very Swish by Bethan Rose Jenkins I lost a tooth in a CadburyÔÇÖs ├®clair, once. Strange, the things that you remember. I can recall the sensation so clearly. The durable adhesive of the … Continue reading CREATIVE CONTEST: “Very Swish” by Bethan Rose Jenkins

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Culture

Don Giovanni review: an entertaining and delightful production

by Andrea Gaini ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà A delightful opera season could not have been ended in a better way by the Welsh National Opera. If La Forza del Destino and Tosca were two great productions, Don Giovanni was simply greater in every sense. MozartÔÇÖs beautiful composition was highlighted and honoured with an all-round gorgeous creation at the Wales Millennium Centre. The opera focuses on the life of … Continue reading Don Giovanni review: an entertaining and delightful production

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Culture

CREATIVE CONTEST: “Split Ends” by Elizabeth Beckett

While we wait for issue 167 to come out and reveal the winner of Quench’s Creative Contest, here is a short story which deals with love, adultery, and a surprising finale. Enjoy! Split Ends by Elizabeth Beckett Her fingers were hard and broken from washing and cutting and perming and dying and curling and shaving hair all day long. And it was a long day. … Continue reading CREATIVE CONTEST: “Split Ends” by Elizabeth Beckett

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Culture

CREATIVE CONTEST: “Birds of a feather” by Megan Carro-Le May

Here is the first participant in Quench’s Short Story Contest; a story presenting colourful and imaginative details. Enjoy! Birds of a Feather┬áby Megan Carro-Le May Birds chant their morning song as a warm honey-coloured ray of sunlight warms the room. Slowly, Melody opens her eyes, peeking up from under the duvet. She stretches, yawns and smiles. Today is her birthday. She hops out of bed … Continue reading CREATIVE CONTEST: “Birds of a feather” by Megan Carro-Le May

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Culture

The Barber of Seville review: Swansea City Opera successfully attempt a hard revival

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Andrea Gaini RossiniÔÇÖs The Barber of Seville is one of the wittiest and most entertaining operas in history. Its rhythmed music and comical libretto give life to the story of Count Almaviva and his love for Rosina. The plot is a quite entangled and complicated one, made of trickeries, undelivered and lost letters, serenades, a barber, and a happy ending. The Swansea City … Continue reading The Barber of Seville review: Swansea City Opera successfully attempt a hard revival

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Culture

Posh review: Act One amplifies WadeÔÇÖs social message

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Manjeevan Kaur Act OneÔÇÖs energetic performance and relentlessly sharp acting in the play is a definite must see. The high level of talent and delivery of Laura WadeÔÇÖs Posh tackled wider social themes in a fresh way. Each young actor completely engaged with their role and each dynamic scene was confidently executed. A thoroughly eye-opening play. Which at all the right times hits … Continue reading Posh review: Act One amplifies WadeÔÇÖs social message

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Culture

A conversation between David Hurn & Martin Parr at the Welsh National Museum

by Rowan Lees Brought together through a shared passion for taking pictures and collecting them, gurus of the photography world David Hurn and Martin Parr met at the Welsh National Museum for a conversation about art. The talk was arranged on the back of HurnÔÇÖs ÔÇÿSwapsÔÇÖ collection, on display until the 15th of April. The exhibition is a wonderful series of photos Hurn has acquired … Continue reading A conversation between David Hurn & Martin Parr at the Welsh National Museum

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Culture

Hijinx Theatre brings diversity to Lesotho with unique Able to Act project

by Sofia Brizio Hijinx is a professional theatre company based in Cardiff, that works mainly with people who have learning disabilities. The company has been around for over thirty years with the aim to change societal perceptions of disabilities by working towards a happier and more inclusive future in which more people are recognised as valuable and contributing to society. I spoke to the outreach … Continue reading Hijinx Theatre brings diversity to Lesotho with unique Able to Act project

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Culture

The Importance of Being Earnest review: Act One brings back Wilde’s most famous work

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Rachel Nurse IÔÇÖve never seen a play performed by such young actors with so much talent. No one left Act OneÔÇÖs the Importance of Being Earnest disappointed. At times I forgot that I was watching a university society enactment and felt like I was in London watching an all-star cast. The Comedy for Serious People was first performed on 14th February 1895 in … Continue reading The Importance of Being Earnest review: Act One brings back Wilde’s most famous work

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Culture

A Number review at The Other Room

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿåÔÿå by Mel Lynch Described in the programme as a ÔÇÿfearless and affecting dissection of the relationship between father and sonÔÇÖ The Other RoomÔÇÖs A Number was certainly an intriguing viewing experience. Directed by Ed Madden, I had the chance to see A Number this week. Having never been to The Other Room theatre I went with no preconceived idea of what to expect. The … Continue reading A Number review at The Other Room

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Culture

The Sound of Music review: must-see musical hits the New Theatre

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿà by Rachel Nurse The Sound of Music at the New Theatre, didnÔÇÖt fail to the please the audience! The love of music and the theatre are celebrated in the Sound of Music. Music bringing happiness and a heart-broken family back together with the help of Maria. The musical is set in Austria in 1938, which tells the story of Maria the potential nun, who … Continue reading The Sound of Music review: must-see musical hits the New Theatre

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Culture

Terra Firma at the Sherman Theatre review

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Abbie Rands Terra Firma, a performance in three parts, is like nothing else I have ever watched in a theatre. In Folk, by far the most intriguing of the three performances, the stage opens on a sparse scene; the roots of a tree hang suspended from the rafters, and a pile of leaves, from which a girl is unearthed. The performance begins with … Continue reading Terra Firma at the Sherman Theatre review

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Culture

Tosca review – a fair revival to Puccini’s masterpiece

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿåÔÿå by Andrea Gaini Wales Millennium Centre, 09/02/2018 Pictures by: Richard Huber Smith After Madam Butterfly and La Boh├¿me, the Welsh National Opera finished off the Puccini tour-de-force they had started last year, with a representation of the beautiful Tosca. One of the three most famous operas by the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, Tosca is truly a musical masterpiece. His music is lovely, carrying the … Continue reading Tosca review – a fair revival to Puccini’s masterpiece

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Culture

Flashdance review: living the 80’s at the New Theatre

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Hannah Marie Stait 06/02/2018, New Theatre If you have a love for 80ÔÇÖs pop and having a good time, you definitely donÔÇÖt want to miss the UK tour of Flashdance which is currently sending good feelings around the New Theatre this week! The 1983 movie was a huge hit in the 80ÔÇÖs and is considered a classic to the old-time movie lovers of … Continue reading Flashdance review: living the 80’s at the New Theatre

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Culture

La Forza del Destino review: a beautiful and inspiring production

ÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿàÔÿå by Andrea Gaini Wales Millennium Centre, 02/02/2018 What is destiny? Is there a way to make things go right? Is GodÔÇÖs forgiveness all we need to live a peaceful life? These are some of the questions Giuseppe VerdiÔÇÖs La Forza del Destino sparked in my head after yesterdayÔÇÖs performance at the Wales Millennium Centre. A night delighted by the presence of his Highness the … Continue reading La Forza del Destino review: a beautiful and inspiring production

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Culture

Gallowglass review: a play that fails to offer the promised thrills

ÔÿàÔÿåÔÿåÔÿåÔÿå by Maxwell Modell New Theatre, 30/01/2018 Gallowglass is the premiere stage adaptation of Ruth RendellÔÇÖs (written as Barbara Vine) thriller of the same name. Yet the play distinctly failed to offer the thrills promised, instead offering a basic by the numbers plot and some twists which donÔÇÖt quite add up. The play opens with Sandor saving the life of Joe who is about to … Continue reading Gallowglass review: a play that fails to offer the promised thrills

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Culture

Interviewing Cardiff street artist Pluzbrut

by Lauren Daly What was it like growing up doing graffiti? I remember growing up seeing these huge and really inspiring communist walls that had been done during the 70┬┤s revolution to end the dictatorship we had in Portugal. I first started painting in my garage. I painted for 5 years and I had these huge layers of paint on the wall because I wasnÔÇÖt … Continue reading Interviewing Cardiff street artist Pluzbrut

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