John le Carré is a British icon. Obituaries following his death lauded his success in raising “the spy novel to a new level of seriousness and respect” and his ability to reach beyond the glamour of Bond-like espionage to the “seedy” realities.
The success of the International Opera Awards is intellectual rigour
At the awards ceremony in Munich this year, a jury dug deep into the purpose of opera and its impact on society.