Germany Haydn, Bartók, and Varèse: Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano), Sarah Aristidou (soprano), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Scholars of the Karajan Academy / François-Xavier Roth (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 26.10.2019 (MB)
Mark Berry
Barenboim and the West-Eastern-Divan Orchestra: still an inspiration after twenty years
Germany Beethoven and Bruckner: Anne-Sophie Mutter (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), West-Eastern-Divan Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim (piano, conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 23.10.2019. (MB)
& Daniel Barenboim (piano, conductor) (c) Monika Rittershaus
Fine musical performances but an indifferent Deutsche Oper production of Les contes d’Hoffmann
Germany Offenbach, Les contes d’Hoffmann: Soloists, Chorus (chorus master: Jeremy Bines) and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin / Daniel Carter (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 24.10.2019. (MB)
Astonishing Elgar from Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin
Germany Rachmaninov, Elgar and Strauss: Lahav Shani (piano), Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 15.10.2019. (MB)
A fine, unsettling production of Katya Kabanova in Berlin
United Kingdom Janáček, Katya Kabanova: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus director: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin / Thomas Guggeis (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 12.10.2019. (MB)
Katja Kabanova: (credit: Bernd Uhlig)
A strong company evening as Turandot is revived at Deutsche Oper, Berlin
Germany Puccini, Turandot: Soloists, Children’s Chorus (chorus master: Christian Lindhorst), Chorus (chorus master: Jeremy Bines), and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin / Claude Schnitzler (conductor), Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 10.10.2019. (MB)
Much to ponder in the new production of Tristan und Isolde in Leipzig
Germany Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, Leipzig Opera Chorus (chorus director: Thomas Eitler-de Lint), Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra / Ulf Schirmer (conductor). Leipzig Opera House, Leipzig, 5.10.2019. (MB)
Intelligent and largely convincing performances of Mozart and Haydn in Berlin
Germany Mozart and Haydn: Julia Lezhneva (soprano), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Ádám Fischer (conductor, piano). Philharmonie, Berlin, 4.10.2019. (MB)
