New choreographies: Marcelino Sambé and Kristen McNally lift The Royal Ballet’s Spring Draft Works out of the routine

United KingdomUnited Kingdom The Royal Ballet’s Spring Draft Works: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Sergey Levitin (violin), Tim Hugh (cello), Robert Clark, Michael Pansters and Kate Shipway (piano). Performed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and streamed from 14.5.2021. (JPr)

Marcelino Sambé’s ‘Othello’s Limbo’

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Under Riccardo Chailly’s baton there was an extraordinary feat of music-making at La Scala’s public reopening

ItalyItaly Various: Lise Davidsen (soprano), Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala / Riccardo Chailly (conductor) Livestreamed (directed by Daniela Vismara) by Raicultura on RaiPlay from La Scala, Milan, 10.5.2021. (JPr)

Lise Davidsen (soprano), La Scala Orchestra & Riccardo Chailly (conductor)

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Magdalena Kožená excels in LSO’s emotionally draining exploration of Mahler’s world-weariness and the eternal

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mahler: Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), Andrew Staples (tenor), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Rhodri Huw) from the Barbican Hall, London, 9.5.2021. (JPr)

Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), LSO & Sir Simon Rattle (conductor)
(c) Barbican/Mark Allan

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The Met’s Wagnerians Live in Concert is redeemed by some splendiferous duets

GermanyGermany Wagnerians in Concert: Christine Goerke, Elza van den Heever (sopranos), Andreas Schager (tenor), Michael Volle (baritone), Craig Terry (piano). Livestreamed (directed by Gary Halvorson) from Hessisches Staatstheater, Wiesbaden, Germany, 8.5.2021. (JPr)

Christine Goerke (soprano) and Craig Terry (piano)

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Mark Simpson’s new Violin Concerto proves full of pent-up energy and Noseda conducts the LSO in compelling Tchaikovsky

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mark Simpson, Tchaikovsky: Nicola Benedetti (violin), London Symphony Orchestra / Gianandrea Noseda (conductor). Recorded at LSO St Luke’s 11.4.2021 and streamed (directed by Andy Quick) on Marquee TV from 29.4.2021. (JPr)

Nicola Benedetti conducts Mark Simpson’s Violin Concerto

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Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale marches home to Manchester thanks to Martins Imhangbe and the Hallé’s musicians

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Stravinsky, The Soldier’s Tale: Hallé / Sir Mark Elder (conductor). Filmed in various locations in Manchester (by Maestro Broadcasting) and first streamed on 29.4.2021. (JPr)

Martins Imhangbe (Soldier) (c) Hallé

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Frank Castorf’s cinematic Vienna Faust explores society, patriotism, consumerism, commercialism and voodoo

AustriaAustria Gounod, Faust: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Bertrand de Billy (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Jacob Pitzer) from Vienna State Opera, 29.4.2021. (JPr)

Adam Palka (Méphistophélès),  Nicole Car (Marguerite) & Juan Diego Flórez (Faust)

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