James Black
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in brief23.03
Two Voiceless Ironists vs. the 2026 General Election
A light – and perhaps somewhat cheap – dish, but who has the energy for more after four weeks of campaigning? -
review07.09.2025
No Dying Diva in Paris – but Glitter, Dog Life and Office Humor
Copenhagen Opera Festival 2025 turned away from opera’s classical themes of fate and instead gave space to intimate music-dramatic experiments on queer identity, domestic violence, climate crisis, and mental illness. -
comment13.08.2025
I Most Certainly Will Not Stay Away From Your Theatre
A few days before this year’s Copenhagen Opera Festival begins, I, as a critic, have been asked to keep away from one of the festival’s most experimental performances at the theatre Sort/Hvid. This is a complete misunderstanding of the role of criticism. -
review18.06.2025
Klang has Come of Age – and Dares to Be Solemn
This year’s edition of Copenhagen’s festival for new music embraced sonic rituals, cultural encounters, and performances with loops, bodies, and cassette tapes – and featured French musicians playing as if sound itself could change the world. -
interview27.08.2022
»I would very much like to survive, thanks in advance«
Two years ago, James Black began writing an article series on religion in the Danish composer scene. Getting more and more angry, Black finally had to give up. Why? -
interview06.08.2021
All Tomorrow's Music
One of Europe’s oldest contemporary music festivals comes to Aarhus. We profile Ung Nordisk Musik, which is as ageless as Madonna and contains Icelandic vulgarities from 1612.