Month: April 2024

Historically informed: Southbank and the Barbican celebrate Easter with authentic Bach performances

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Bach: Soloists, Orchestra and Choir of the Age of Enlightenment / Peter Whelan (director and harpsichord). Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 27.3.2024. (CSa)

The Academy of Ancient Music conducted by Laurence Cummings in the Barbican Hall © Mark Allan

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In Paris: Nureyev’s Don Quixote is a true celebration of dance without the slightest false step

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FranceFrance Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote: Paris Opera Ballet, Orchestra of the Paris National Opera / Gavriel Heine (conductor). Transmitted live (directed by François Roussillon) from the Opéra Bastille, Paris, 2.4.2024. (JPr)

Paul Marque (Basilio) and Sae Eun Park (Kitri)

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Much to celebrate in the ‘timeless’ revival of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci in Hamburg

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GermanyGermany Mascagni, Cavalleria rusticana, Leoncavallo, Pagliacci: Soloists, Chorus, Extra Chorus, Alsterspatzen (children and youth chorus) of Hamburg State Opera, Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Daniele Callegari (conductor). Hamburg State Opera, 29.3.2024. (DMD)

Hamburg State Opera’s Cavalleria rusticana © Hans Jörg Michel

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Thought-provoking, involving staging of St Matthew Passion in Berlin

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Bach, St Matthew Passion: Soloists, Children’s and  Youth Choirs of the Deutsche Oper (director: Christian Lindhorst), Youth Choir of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Children’s Choir of the Aalto-Theatre, Essen (director: Patrik Jaskolka), Chorus of the Deutsche Oper (director: Jeremy Bines), Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper / Alessandro De Marchi (conductor). Deutsche Oper Berlin, 29.3.2024. (MB)

Bach’s St Matthew Passion at Deutsche Oper Berlin © Marcus Lieberenz

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The superb Asmik Grigorian is simply Mimì in a kimono in Covent Garden’s Madama Butterfly

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Puccini, Madama Butterfly: Soloists, Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Kevin John Edusei (conductor). Filmed (directed by Bridget Caldwell) on 26.3.2024 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and shown at Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, Essex, 1.4.2024. (JPr)

[l-r] Hongni Wu (Suzuki), Josef Jeongmeen Ahn (Yamadori), Ya-Chung Huang (Goro), Asmik Grigorian (Cio-Cio-San) and Joshua Guerrero (Pinkerton) © Marc Brenner

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