Spain Mozart, Die Zauberflöte: Teatro Real Chorus and Orchestra / Kornilios Michailidis (conductor), Teatro Real, Madrid, 13.2.2020. (JMI)
An imaginative production of Die Zauberflöte continues to enchant Madrid audiences
José Irurzun
The Madrid premiere of George Benjamin’s first opera, Into the Little Hill
Spain Benjamin, Into the Little Hill: Members of the Teatro Real Orchestra / Tim Murray (conductor), Teatros del Canal, Madrid, 11.2.2020. (JMI)
Stemme and Lundgren star in a superb new Munich production of Bluebeard’s Castle
Germany Bartók, Judith: Concerto for Orchestra / Bluebeard’s Castle: Bayerisches Staatsorchester / Oksana Lyniv (conductor), National Theater, Munich, 4.2.2020. (JMI)
Anna Netrebko triumphs in Munich in her debut as Turandot
Germany Puccini, Turandot: Bayerische Staatsoper Chorus and Orchestra / Giacomo Sagripanti (conductor). National Theater, Munich, 3.2.2020. (JMI)
Christian Thielemann’s magnificent conducting and a strong cast mark Dresden’s Die Meistersinger
Germany Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Staatsopernchor and Staatskapelle Dresden / Christian Thielemann (conductor). Semperoper, Dresden, 30.1.2020. (JMI)
A brilliant reading of Falstaff by Zubin Mehta and the Staatskapelle Berlin
Germany Verdi, Falstaff: Staatsopernchor, Staatskapelle Berlin / Zubin Mehta (conductor), Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 29.1.2020. (JMI)
A nicely sung Aida at the Liceu – and the classic Mestres Cabanes sets remain a thing of great beauty
Spain Verdi, Aida: Liceu Chorus and Orchestra / Gustavo Gimeno (conductor). Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 27 & 28.1.2020. (JMI)
Happy Birthday in Madrid to William Christie and Les Arts Florissants on their Baroque Odyssey tour
Spain A Baroque Odyssey – Handel, Purcell, Charpentier, D’Ambruis, Lully, Rameau: Sandrine Piau (soprano), Lea Desandre (mezzo-soprano), Marcel Beekman (tenor), Christophe Dumaux (countertenor), Marc Mauillon (baritone), Lisandro Abadie (bass-baritone), Les Arts Florissants / William Christie and Paul Agnew (conductors). Auditorio Nacional de Música, Madrid, 15.12.2019. (JMI)
