United Kingdom Rossini, La Gazzetta: Soloists, Chorus, Royal College of Music Opera Orchestra, Michael Rosewell (conductor). Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music, 24.6.2014 (MB)
Excellent Performances in an Underwhelming Rossini Opera
Mark Berry
Francesconi’s Quartett a Chessgame with People’s Souls
United Kingdom Luca Francesconi, Quartett: Soloists, Sound Intermedia, London Sinfonietta, Andrew Gourlay (conductor). Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, London, 18.6.2014 (MB)
Stunning Virtuosity and Fine Musicality from Khatia Buniatishvili
United Kingdom Ravel, Brahms, Chopin, and Stravinsky: Khatia Buniatishvili (piano). Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 4.6.2014 (MB)
Deutsche Oper’s honest, sensitive and impressive Parsifal
Germany Wagner, Parsifal: Soloists, Chorus, Men of the Extra Chorus, and Children’s Chorus of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin (chorus masters: William Spaulding, Christian Lindhorst), Opera-ballet and Statisterie of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin, Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin / Axel Kober (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 21.4.2014. (MB)
ENO’s Peter Grimes is a Must-See Production
United Kingdom Britten, Peter Grimes: Soloists, Orchestra, Chorus, and additional chorus of the English National Opera / Edward Gardner (conductor). London Coliseum, 29.1.2014. (MB)
Benjamin’s New Opera Acclaimed a Masterpiece
United Kingdom George Benjamin’s Written on Skin: Soloists, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, George Benjamin (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 18.3.2013. (MB)
Salzburg Festival: Die Soldaten, Excellent
Austria Zimmermann, Die Soldaten: Soloists, Instrumentalists, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Ingo Metzmacher (conductor). Felsenreitschule, Salzburg, 20.8.2012 (MB)
Christopher Maltman and Graham Johnson open the 2011/12 Wigmore Hall season, exploring settings of Schiller
United Kingdom Friedrich Schiller – Ein Leben in Liedern: Songs by Schubert, Schumann, and Liszt: Christopher Maltman (baritone), Graham Johnson (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 10.9.2011 (MB)