Jim Pritchard

Angela Gheorghiu and Stefan Pop make the current Covent Garden La bohème revival something special

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United KingdomUnited 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)

(l-r) Andrey Zhilikhovsky (Marcello), Simona Mihai (Musetta), Michael Mofidian (Colline) and Angela Gheorghiu (Mimì) © Camilla Greenwell

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Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic usher in 2024 with some memorable Wagner

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GermanyGermany 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)

Kirill Petrenko conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra © Monica Rittershaus

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Seen in cinemas: Dutch National Ballet’s Giselle with Olga Smirnova is conceived on a grand scale

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NetherlandsNetherlands 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)

Olga Smirnova (Giselle) and Jacopo Tissi (Albrecht) © Alex Gouliaev

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English National Ballet’s must-see Giselle revival will give you a touch of the Wilis

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United KingdomUnited 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)

Aitor Arrieta (Albrecht) amd Katja Khaniukova (Giselle) in Act II © Laurent Liotardo

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An excellent 2023 cast puts the fizz back into Vienna State Opera’s venerable Die Fledermaus

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AustriaAustria 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)

Hiroshi Amako (Alfred) and Camilla Nylund (Rosalinde) © WS/Michael Pöhn

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Alexei Ratmansky reinvigorates and re-choreographs Coppélia for La Scala Ballet

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ItalyItaly 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)

Timofej Andrijashenko (Franz) and Nicoletta Manni (Swanilda) © Brescia e Amisano/Teatro alla Scala

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The Royal Ballet’s cosily familiar The Nutcracker returns to welcome in Christmas yet again

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, The Schola Cantorum of The London Oratory School, London Oratory Junior Choir (director: Charles Cole), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Andrew Litton (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Peter Jones) for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 12.12.2023 and seen at Everyman Chelmsford, Essex, 18.12.2023. (JPr)

Anna Rose O’Sullivan (Sugar Plum Fairy) and Marcelino Sambé (Prince) © Alice Pennefather

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