Jim Pritchard

Bieito’s Carmen gets memorable performances in Vienna from Garanča and Beczała

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AustriaAustria Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Children of the Opera School, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Yves Abel (conductor). Performed at the Vienna State Opera and livestreamed (directed by Jasmina Eleta) on 12.9.2022. (JPr)

Elīna Garanča (centre, Carmen) and Piotr Beczała (right, Don José) © Wiener Staatsoper

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Kevin John Edusei and his Chineke! forces at the Proms send Beethoven’s call to us all

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2022 [26], Prom 61 – Walker, Beethoven: Nicole Cabell (soprano), Raehann Bryce-Davis (mezzo-soprano), Zwakele Tshabalala (tenor), Ryan Speedo Green (bass-baritone), Chineke! Voices, Chineke! Orchestra / Kevin John Edusei (conductor). Recorded (directed by Seren Irvine) at the Royal Albert Hall, London, 2.9.2022, and broadcast on BBC Four. (JPr)

Kevin John Edusei conducts the Chineke! Orchestra © Mark Allan

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Alsop’s programme with her Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra was carefully curated but lacked variety

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2022 [19], Prom 36 – Bartók, Prokofiev, Hannah Eisendle, Dvořák: Benjamin Grosvenor (piano), Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra / Marin Alsop (conductor). 13.8.2022 concert recorded at the Royal Albert Hall (directed by Helen Mansfield) and available on BBC iPlayer. (JPr)

Benjamin Grosvenor

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Opera Rara bring Offenbach’s La Princesse de Trébizonde to London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in September

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Opera Rara & London Philharmonic Orchestra present OFFENBACH’S LA PRINCESSE DE TRÉBIZONDE  Cast: Anne-Catherine Gillet (Zanetta); Virginie Verrez (Le Prince Raphael); Christophe Gay  (Cabriolo); Antoinette Dennefeld (Régina); Josh Lovell (Le Prince Casimir); Katia Ledoux (Paola); Christophe Mortagne (Trémolini); Loïc Félix (Sparadrap); Opera Rara Chorus; London Philharmonic Orchestra; Paul Daniel (conductor) On Friday 16 September, Opera … Read more

Götterdämmerung proves an inconclusive end to Valentin Schwarz’s new Bayreuth Ring cycle

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GermanyGermany Bayreuth Festival 2022 – Wagner, Götterdämmerung: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Bayreuth Festival / Cornelius Meister (conductor). Recorded (directed by Michael Beyer) at the Bayreuther Festspielhaus on 5.8.2022 and now available on STAGE+ until 14.11.2047. (JPr)

Michael Kupfer-Radecky (Gunther) with the chorus (Vassals) © Enrico Nawrath

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Garsington Opera bring their strong Rusalka production to Edinburgh

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2022 [2] – Dvořák, Rusalka: Soloists, Garsington Opera Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra / Douglas Boyd (conductor). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 8.8.2022. (SRT)

Natalya Romaniw (Rusalka) and Christine Rice (Ježibaba) © Andrew Perry

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