United Kingdom Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera / Sir Richard Armstrong (conductor). London Coliseum, London, 4.2.2017. (JPr)
Jonathan Miller’s Rigoletto Comes Round Again at ENO
Jim Pritchard
The Royal Opera’s Il trovatore Rewards Listening to rather than Watching
United Kingdom Verdi, Il trovatore: Soloists, chorus and Royal Opera House Orchestra / Richard Farnes (conductor). Directed for the screen by Bridget Caldwell and broadcast from the Royal Opera House to Odeon Cinema, Covent Garden, London. 31.1.2017. (JPr)
Much to Admire in the LPO’s Fidelio – but not the Misguided Semi-Staging
United Kingdom Beethoven – Fidelio (semi-staged performance): Soloists, Simon Williams and Helen Ryan (narrators), London Voices, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Vladimir Jurowski. Royal Festival Hall, London 21.1.2017. (JPr)
Alina Cojocaru’s Otherworldly Grace in English National Ballet’s Unforgettable Giselle
United Kingdom Adolphe Adam, Giselle: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Gavin Sutherland (conductor). London Coliseum, London. 11.1.2017. (JPr)
Domingo and Levine Reunited for Nabucco at the Met
United States Verdi, Nabucco: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / James Levine (conductor). Broadcast live to the Odeon Cinema, Chelmsford, Essex, from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, 7.1.2017. (JPr)
(c) Metropolitan Opera/Marty Sohl
THE SOPRANO ELISABETH MEISTER: FIGHTING BACK FROM WHAT LIFE THROWS AT YOU AND INSPIRING OTHERS
Fighting Back From What Life Throws At You And Inspiring Others: Jim Pritchard Interviews The Soprano Elisabeth Meister
One of the highlights of the recent concert performance of Die Walküre for the Saffron Opera Group was Elisabeth Meister’s wonderful Sieglinde. Peter Reed in Opera magazine described how ‘gathering depth and brilliance’ she ‘built towards an orchestra-surfing “O hehrstes Wunder!” of pulverizing grandeur’. On this site I said she just ‘got better and better’ and how ‘Meister is an intelligent singer who knows how to project her voice, and she achieved extraordinary heights of passion in Act III without pushing the voice beyond its limits.’ (For full review click here.) I also mentioned how Elisabeth was – with this performance – returning to singing after something of a hiatus to her singing career, which was set to have a meteoric rise after leaving the Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Young Artists Programme. Elisabeth has a remarkable – and inspirational – story to tell which involves losing and regaining her singing voice.
René Pape’s Wigmore Hall Debut: Consummate Artistry Despite a Cold
United Kingdom Beethoven, Dvořák, Quilter and Mussorgsky: René Pape (bass), Camillo Radicke (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 17.12.2016. (JPr)
Magnificent and Fearless Playing by Concertgebouw Under Gatti in Sombre Wagner, Mahler and Berg
United Kingdom Wagner, Mahler and Berg: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra / Daniele Gatti (conductor), Barbican Hall, London, 17.12.2016. (JPr)
