Spain Colomer, El Pintor: Orchestra of the Teatro Real, Chorus of the Comunidad de Madrid / Manuel Coves (conductor), Teatros del Canal, Madrid, 8.2.2018. (JMI)
José Irurzun
An Excellent Peter Grimes on All Fronts
Spain Britten, Peter Grimes: Comunitat Valenciana Orchestra, Generalitat Valenciana Chorus / Christopher Franklin (conductor), Palau de Le Arts, Valencia, 7.2.2018. (JMI)
Catherine Naglestad as Salome Is Outstanding, as Always
Germany Strauss, Salome: Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin / Evan Rogister (conductor), Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 28.1.2018. (JMI)
A Nicely Sung Carmen, but a Disappointing and Unconvincing New Production
Germany Bizet, Carmen: Orchestra and Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin / Ivan Repušić (conductor), Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 27.1.2018. (JMI)
Joyce DiDonato Leads a Superb Cast in Dead Man Walking Under the Baton of Mark Wigglesworth
Spain Heggie, Dead Man Walking: Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro Real / Mark Wigglesworth (conductor), Teatro Real, Madrid, 26.1.2018. (JMI)
Kirill Petrenko Leads Das Rheingold and Proves that he has Reached Olympus as a Conductor
Germany Wagner, Das Rheingold: Bayerische Staatsoper Orchestra / Kirill Petrenko (conductor), Nationaltheater, Munich, 13.1.2018. (JMI)
This Abduction from the Seraglio Features Some Fine Singing but No ‘Spiel’
Germany Mozart, Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Bayerische Staatsoper Orchestra and Chorus / Ivor Bolton (conductor), Nationaltheater, Munich, 12.1.2018. (JMI)
A Bel Canto Feast: Poliuto at the Liceu
Spain Donizetti, Poliuto (concert version): Liceu Orchestra and Chorus / Daniele Callegari (conductor), Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 10.1.2018. (JMI)