United Kingdom Liszt: Louis Lortie (piano), Wigmore Hall, London, 28.4.2019. (MB)
Louis Lortie Marks His Sixtieth Birthday with an Extraordinary Lisztian Pilgrimage
Mark Berry
Musical Virtues of Staatsoper’s Meistersinger Hampered by Incoherent Production
Germany Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus director: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin. 21.4.2019. (MB)
The Komische Oper’s La bohème is More Memorable than Poro
Germany Puccini, La bohème and Handel, Poro: Soloists, Children’s Chorus (chorus director: Dagmar Fiebach), Chorus (chorus director: David Cavelius), and Orchestra of the Komische Oper, Berlin / Jordan de Souza and Jörg Halubeck (conductors). Komische Oper, Berlin, 19. and 20.4.2019. (MB)
Deutsche Oper’s Rienzi is Compromised by Cuts and Miserable Conducting
Germany Wagner, Rienzi: Soloists, Chorus and Extra Chorus of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin (chorus director: Jeremy Bines), Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin / Evan Rogister (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 18.4.2019. (MB)
Semperoper’s Excellent Production of Platée is a Controlled Riot with Vigour and Style
Germany Rameau, Platée: Soloists, Dancers, Sächsische Staatsopernchor Dresden (chorus director: Cornelius Volke), Säschsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Paul Agnew (conductor). Semperoper, Dresden, 16.4.2019. (MB)
Betrothal in a Monastery Provides an Intriguing, Challenging, and Amusing Evening
Germany Prokofiev, Betrothal in a Monastery: Soloists, Berlin State Opera Chorus (chorus director: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 13.4.2019. (MB)
Three Stimulating Works and Performances from the LSO and François-Xavier Roth
United Kingdom Lang, Manoury, Shin, and Scriabin: London Symphony Chorus, LSO Community Choir, 500 Voices Participants (Simon Halsey [chorus director]) / Esmerelda Conde-Ruiz, Emily Dickens, Lucy Griffiths, David Lawrence, Jack Apperley (conductors), London Symphony Orchestra, François-Xavier Roth (conductor). Barbican foyers and Barbican Hall, London, 24.3.2019. (MB)
Much to Savour in the Royal Academy’s Tchaikovsky and Ravel Double Bill
United Kingdom Tchaikovsky and Ravel: Soloists, Royal Academy Opera Chorus and Sinfonia / Gareth Hancock (conductor). Susie Sainsbury Theatre, Royal Academy of Music, London, 18.3.2019. (MB)
