Germany Berlin Festtage (2). Wagner – Parsifal: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus master: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (conductor). Schiller Theater, Berlin, 8.4.2017. (MB)
A Parsifal That Will Not Let Go
Mark Berry
Barenboim and the VPO Open the Berlin Festtage with Mozart and Schoenberg
Germany Berlin Festtage (1) – Mozart and Schoenberg: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Daniel Barenboim (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 7.4.2017. (MB)
Rewarding Beethoven from Saleem Ashkar
Germany Beethoven: Saleem Ashkar (piano). Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin, 5.4.2017. (MB)
The Komische Oper’s Colourful Portrayal of The Fair at Sorochintsy
Germany Mussorgsky, The Fair at Sorochintsy: Orchestra, Children’s Chorus (chorus mistress: Dagmar Fiebach) and Chorus of the Komische Oper, Berlin (chorus master: David Cavelius), Vocalconsort Berlin / Henrik Nánási (conductor). Komische Oper, Berlin, 2.4.2017. (MB)
The Semperoper’s Don Giovanni Marred by Seriously Misguided Musical Direction
Germany Mozart, Don Giovanni: Soloists, Sachsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden (chorus master: Cornelius Volke), Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Omer Meir Wellber (conductor). Semperoper, Dresden, 20.3.2017. (MB)
The Semperoper’s New Production of Doktor Faust: A True Company Achievement
Germany Busoni, Doktor Faust: Soloists, Dancers, Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden (chorus master: Jörn Hinnerk Andresen), Säschsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Tomáš Netopil (conductor). Semperoper, Dresden, 19.3.2017. (MB)
A Pair of Philharmonie Concerts Subtly Challenge Ideas of Musical Drama
Germany Gruber, Bartók, Ravel, and Berio: Emanuel Ax (piano), Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), Rinat Shaham (mezzo-soprano), Gábor Bretz (bass), Ulrich Noethen, Dino Scandariato (narrators), Members of the Berlin Radio Choir and Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Paul Jeukendrup (sound direction), Orchestral Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 18.3.2017. (MB)
Programming and Performances to Satisfy the ‘Thinking Ear’ at Berlin’s New Concert Hal
Germany Mozart, Boulez, and Schoenberg: Donatienne Michel-Dansac (contralto), Boulez Ensemble / François-Xavier Roth (conductor). Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin, 17.3.2017. (MB)