United Kingdom Luca Francesconi, Quartett: Soloists, Sound Intermedia, London Sinfonietta, Andrew Gourlay (conductor). Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, London, 18.6.2014 (MB)
Francesconi’s Quartett a Chessgame with People’s Souls
Mark Berry
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)
Salzburg Festival 2012 – Rattle’s 1950s Carmen lacks the Mediterranean touch
Austria Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Choirs (chorus master: Ernst Raffelsberger), Salzburg Festival and Theatre Children’s Chorus (chorus master: Wolfgang Götz), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 17.8.2012. (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)