United Kingdom Blow, Purcell: Soloists, HGOAntiqua Orchestra / Seb Gillot (conductor). Cockpit Theatre, Marylebone, London, 20.5.2022. (MB)
A winning combination of operas by Blow and Purcell
Mark Berry
The London Sinfonietta’s stimulating ‘taster’ programme to win friends for new music
United Kingdom Varèse, Boulez, Feldman, Berio, and Davies: Simone Ibbett-Brown (mezzo-soprano), Michael Cox (flute), Paul Silverthorne (viola), London Sinfonietta / Gerry Cornelius (conductor). Hall Two, Kings Place, London, 18.5.2022. (MB)
Unexpected double bill marks 20 years of the Royal Opera’s Young Artists programme
United Kingdom Stravinsky and Schoenberg: Soloists, Britten Sinfonia / Michael Papadopoulos (conductor). Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, London, 17.5.2022. (MB)
Nelsons and Gewandhaus Orchestra treat London to outstanding Richard Strauss performances
United Kingdom The Strauss Project Part II: Rudolf Buchbinder (piano), Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 10.5.2022. (MB)
Superb Parisian premiere of György Kurtág’s masterly first opera, Fin de partie
France Kurtág, Fin de partie: Soloists, Orchestra of the Opéra national de Paris / Markus Stenz (conductor). Palais Garnier, Paris, 30.4.2022. (MB)
Fine conspectus of Kurt Weill from the LSO and Simon Rattle
United Kingdom Weill: Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), Andrew Staples, Alessandro Fisher (tenors), Ross Ramgobin (baritone), Florian Boesch (bass-baritone), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 28.4.2022. (MB)
Vincent Huguet’s admirably sung Berlin Don Giovanni has an air of missed opportunity
Germany Berlin Festtage [5] – Mozart, Don Giovanni: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus master: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin / Thomas Guggeis (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, 17.4.2022. (MB)
Barrie Kosky’s exuberant, all-singing, all-dancing Orpheus at the Komische Oper
Germany Monteverdi (arr. Kats-Chernin), L’Orfeo: Soloists, Dancers, Chorus (chorus master: David Caevlius) and Orchestra of the Komische Oper / Matthew Toogood (conductor). Komische Oper, Berlin, 16.4.2022. (MB)
