Suna Erdem
11 February 2024
Rhapsody in Blue at 100: An ear tuned to the world
A century old, Rhapsody in Blue blends rhythms from the Black jazz age and from the Europe that George Gershwin left behind
Read the full article03 November 2023
Marina Abramovic, Willem Dafoe and the killer opera that’s dividing audiences
The 7 Deaths of Maria Callas is framed around a catalogue of operatic demises
Read the full article23 October 2023
The Ukraine orchestra that Putin can’t silence
Currently touring the UK, the NSOU’s Kyiv rehearsals are regularly interrupted by drone attacks
Read the full article04 October 2023
Robbery with violins: Brexit's assault on classical music
Britain’s young classical musicians find their futures have been stolen as Brexit wrecks their opportunities
Read the full article20 September 2023
Where the Lennon meets Lenin
Ivo Josipović, Croatia’s former president and self-confessed Beatles obsessive, has composed his own opera about the murder of John Lennon
Read the full article30 August 2023
The centenary no one wants to remember
The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne crushed hopes of a homeland for Turkey’s Armenian and Kurdish minorities. Today, hostilities remain
Read the full article05 August 2023
Celebrating thirty years of classical music’s Davos
The world’s musical elite gather in Switzerland for the Verbier Festival to entertain and teach, rather than take over the world
Read the full article12 July 2023
Sweden is finally joining Nato. What took them so long?
The Turkish president has finally seen sense and removed his veto over Swedish membership. But he wants something in return
Read the full article10 May 2023
The plight at the end of the tunnel for Greece
The country thought it was finally putting the financial crisis behind it. But a fatal train crash has thrown the general election into doubt
Read the full article07 May 2023
Claim that tune: When Puccini sued Al Jolson
The recent Ed Sheeran plagiarism court case revives the old question of where music really comes from
Read the full article03 May 2023
What will come after Erdoğan?
Only one thing has united Turkey’s fractious opposition – hatred of the president. Now they may inherit his financial crisis
Read the full article31 March 2023
Will Finland’s Dancing Queen lose her crown?
The world loves Sanna Marin, but as an election looms, her country may not feel the same
Read the full article26 March 2023
Is diplomacy dying?
The era of gentle persuasion, finding understanding and preventing conflict seems to be coming to an end. Can it be revived?
Read the full article09 March 2023
Living in the shadow of the butcher
Ratko Mladić, the Bosnian Serb war criminal, is dying. For one of the families he ripped apart, his fate means nothing
Read the full article23 February 2023
Not enough left in the tank: The pressures faced by women leaders
Nicola Sturgeon’s departure continues a pattern of leaders finding themselves broken by politics’ hostile environment for women
Read the full article16 February 2023
Why classical music is not a one-way street
Traditionally it’s assumed that there is only a west-to-east movement but there has been a rich tradition the other way
Read the full article13 February 2023
Will the earthquake bring the end of Erdogan?
This year’s election could be the tragedy-hit country’s last chance to avoid an authoritarian regime
Read the full article03 February 2023
Lord Frost and the gang want to save the day
Once again, Frost has proved he wants to have his cake and eat it too
Read the full article31 January 2023
Whatever happened to Paul Nuttall?
He was tipped to be the next Nigel Farage - but then the much-derided former UKIP leader went off the radar
Read the full article29 January 2023
Escaping into the piano
The French composer who grew up in a cult and found solace in the power of music
Read the full article26 January 2023
The classical music industry has collapsed, and Brexit is to blame
Extra paperwork, border checks and additional costs for exports - Brexit has destroyed the livelihoods of countless musicians
Read the full article16 January 2023
Why does Greece want to jail the real-life heroine of The Swimmers?
One of the inspirations behind the acclaimed movie, Sara Mardini is on trial for helping other refugees
Read the full article05 January 2023
The children of the revolution
One generation of world leaders has failed to halt climate change. The next generation intend to change all that
Read the full article30 December 2022
DeSantis must silence Trump if he is to become president
The Republican front-runner would be a fool to write off his former friend
Read the full article14 December 2022
We could help stop more boat tragedies with safe and legal routes for asylum seekers - why don’t we try it?
The government are still asking the wrong questions and finding the wrong answers about migrant crossings
Read the full article01 December 2022
Handel: the original pop star?
Classical music's challenge today is to revolutionise thinking and reinvigorate interest. A new, showy Messiah is one step
Read the full article22 November 2022
Switzerland is the EU's new problem child - why would anyone want to copy that?
Even the Swiss hate the sort of deal that government sources are eyeing up for Britain
Read the full article22 November 2022
We have learned nothing from the tragedy of The 27
A year on from tragedy in the Channel, the British government still does not understand those who claim asylum, or how to treat them fairly and safely
Read the full article16 November 2022
The art of protest
Climate campaigners are blocking roads and defacing artworks. But is anyone listening?
Read the full article16 November 2022
Songs for dark times
In a world beset by war, turmoil and climate panic, Schubert’s 200-year-old Winterreise seems more pertinent than ever
Read the full article11 November 2022
A need for earthquake diplomacy
Reconciliation between Turkey and Greece could be simple, despite historic enmities. But who has the political will?
Read the full article01 November 2022
There is no migrant crisis
There is only a cynical, poorly-run immigration system. And that’s the government’s fault
Read the full article