National Theatre Live – Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest: Filmed (directed by Matthew Amos) in London’s Lyttleton Theatre. (JPr)
Jim Pritchard
Violinist Christian Tetzlaff dazzles in Sibelius, and Afkham and the CSO bring Schoenberg to life
United States Wagner, Sibelius, Schoenberg: Christian Tetzlaff (violin), Chicago Symphony Orchestra / David Afkham (conductor). Orchestra Hall, Chicago, 14.2.2025. (ZC)
Michael Volle is unsurpassable again as Wotan in David McVicar’s mostly traditional La Scala Die Walküre
Italy Wagner, Die Walküre: Soloists, Teatro alla Scala Orchestra / Simone Young (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Ella Gallieni) from La Scala, Milan, 12.2.2025 and available on demand until 19.2.2025. (JPr)
Lise Davidsen is delightfully diva-ish in Sven-Eric Bechtolf’s ironic Vienna Ariadne auf Naxos
Austria Richard Strauss, Ariadne auf Naxos: Soloists, Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Cornelius Meister (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Jasmina Eleta) from the Vienna State Opera, 28.1.2025. (JPr)
Carrie Hope Fletcher stars in Calamity Jane, an old-fashioned but still whip-cracking musical
United Kingdom Calamity Jane (adapted for the stage by Charles K Freeman from a screenplay by James O’Hanlon): Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, 28.1.2025. (JPr)
Piotr Beczała redeems himself with his stylish Radamès in Michael Mayer’s deeply traditional Met Aida
United States Verdi, Aida: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor). Broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 25.1.2025. (JPr)
(P)review of the filmed version of Donmar Warehouse’s Macbeth coming to a cinema near you soon
United Kingdom William Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Filmed live (directed by Tim Van Someren) at London’s Donmar Warehouse in 2023 and released in cinemas across the UK, US, Australia and selected international territories from 5th February 2025. (JPr)
Michieletto’s absinthe-fuelled Tales of Hoffmann for The Royal Opera gets a delightful musical performance
United Kingdom Offenbach, The Tales of Hoffmann (Les contes d’Hoffmann): Soloists, Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Antonello Manacorda (conductor). Filmed (directed by Rhodri Huw) at the Royal Ballet and Opera in November 2024 and shown at the Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, Essex, 15.1.2025. (JPr)
