United Kingdom Torben Betts’s Murder in the Dark: Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, 29.1.2024. (JPr)
You are urged to see Murder in the Dark though I must keep you in the dark about the play itself
Jim Pritchard
On medici.tv: an oddly programmed concert of Berlioz and Wagner from the Strasbourg Philharmonic
France Berlioz and Wagner: Joyce DiDonato (mezzo-soprano), Michael Spyres (baritenor), Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg / John Nelson and Ludovic Morlot (conductors). Livestreamed on medici.tv (directed by Jean-Pierre Loisill) from the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès, Strasbourg, France, 26.1.2024. (JPr)
Angela Gheorghiu and Stefan Pop make the current Covent Garden La bohème revival something special
United Kingdom Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Evelino Pidò (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 25.1.2024. (JPr)
Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic usher in 2024 with some memorable Wagner
Germany Wagner, Berliner Phiharmoniker Silvesterkonzert: Vida Miknevičiūtė (soprano), Jonas Kaufmann (tenor), Tobias Kehrer (bass), Berliner Philharmoniker / Kirill Petrenko (conductor). Directed by Hannah Dorn and livestreamed on the Digital Concert Hall from the Philharmonie Berlin, 31.12.2023, and now archived. (JPr)
Seen in cinemas: Dutch National Ballet’s Giselle with Olga Smirnova is conceived on a grand scale
Netherlands Dutch National Ballet’s Giselle: Dancers of Dutch National Ballet, Dutch Ballet Orchestra / Ermanno Florio (conductor). Filmed (directed by Isabelle Julien) at the Dutch National Opera & Ballet. Amsterdam, on 26 and 29.10.2023 and released worldwide in cinemas only from 21.1.2024. (JPr)
English National Ballet’s must-see Giselle revival will give you a touch of the Wilis
United Kingdom English National Ballet’s Giselle: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Gavin Sutherland (principal guest conductor). London Coliseum, London. 11.1.2024. (JPr)
An excellent 2023 cast puts the fizz back into Vienna State Opera’s venerable Die Fledermaus
Austria Johann Strauss II, Die Fledermaus: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Simone Young (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Jakob Pitzer) from the Vienna State Opera, 31.12.2023. (JPr)
Alexei Ratmansky reinvigorates and re-choreographs Coppélia for La Scala Ballet
Italy Alexei Ratmansky’s Coppélia: Dancers of La Scala Ballet, Orchestra of La Scala, Milan / Paul Connelly (conductor). Broadcast (directed by Stefania Grimaldi) from La Scala, Milan, 17.12.2023. (JPr)
