Long Live Puccini! La Scala overcomes adversity to perform 100 years to the day after he died

ItalyItaly La Scala per Puccini: Jonas Kaufmann, Luciano Ganci (tenors), Anna Netrebko, Mariangela Sicilia (soprano), James Vaughan (piano). Filmed (directed by Stefania Grimaldi) at La Scala, Milan, 29.11.2024 and available on ARTE Concert until 28.3.2025. (JPr)

[l-r] James Vaughan, Jonas Kaufmann, Mariangela Sicilia, Luciano Ganci, and Anna Netrebko

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McCrystal’s too merry Glyndebourne Merry Widow lacks the depth it deserves despite a fine ensemble

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow: Soloists, The Glyndebourne Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra / John Wilson (conductor). Filmed (directed by Rhodri Huw) at the Glyndebourne Opera House and broadcast on BBC Four on 25.12.2024 and available on iPlayer. (JPr)

The entrance of Hanna Glawari (Danielle de Niese) in The Merry Widow Act I © Tristram Kenton

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Sky Arts shows the constructive chaos behind English National Ballet’s work-in-progress new Nutcracker

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Backstage with English National Ballet (Sky Arts, series directed by Zoë Dobson) & English National Ballet’s Nutcracker (directed for TV by Peter Jones): English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Maria Seletskaja (conductor). Filmed at the London Coliseum and first broadcast on Sky Arts on 23.12.2024. (JPr)

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There will never be another! Relive Rudolf Nureyev’s virtuosic talent in his legendary Don Quixote film

AustraliaAustralia The Australian Ballet in Rudolf Nureyev’s Film of Don Quixote: The Australian Ballet, The State Orchestra of Victoria (formerly The Elizabethan Trust Melbourne Orchestra) / John Lanchbery (conductor). Filmed in 1973, restored and remastered in 1999, and currently available on medici.tv. (JPr)

Gailene Stock and Caroline Rappell (Kitri’s girlfriends) and Rudolf Nureyev in Don Quixote

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The Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus are an indispensable part of Edinburgh’s Christmas celebrations

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Christmas music from Schütz, Praetorius, MacMillan and other composers: Kana Kawashima (violin), Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus / Gregory Batsleer (conductor). Greyfriars Kirk, Edinburgh, 18.12.2024. (SRT)

Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus (with Chorus director Gregory Batsleer) © Christopher Bowen

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Pfitzner’s Palestrina is conducted by Thielemann, the opera’s tireless advocate, and triumphs in Vienna

AustriaAustria Hans Pfitzner’s Palestrina: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Christian Thielemann (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Ella Gallieni) from the Vienna State Opera, 12.12.2024. (JPr)

Michael Laurenz (Bernardo Novagerio) and Wolfgang Koch (Cardinal Borromeo) © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn

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A star is born: Carolina López Moreno brings Puccini’s Magda vividly to life in LSO’s La rondine

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Puccini, La rondine (concert performance): Soloists, London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 12.12.2024. (JPr)

Carolina López Moreno sings Magda with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano © Mark Allan

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