Despite reservations, memory of Gluck at Aix will doubtless endure

FranceFrance Festival d’Aix-en-Provence [4] – Gluck, Iphigénie en Aulide and Iphigénie en Tauride: Soloists, Le Choeur d’Astrée (chorus director: Richard Wilberforce), Le Concert d’Astrée, Emmanuelle Haïm (conductor). Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, 11.7.2024 (MB)

Iphigenie en Tauride at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence 2024 © Monika Rittershaus

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‘Songs and Fragments’ at Aix is gripping, concentrated theatre

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Festival d’Aix-en-Provence [3] – ‘Songs and Fragments’: Davies, Eight Songs for a Mad King; Kurtág, Kafka-Fragmente: Soloists, Ensemble Intercontemporain / Pierre Bleuse (conductor). Théâtre du Jeu de Paume, Aix-en-Provence, 10.7.2024. (MB)

Eight Songs for a Mad King at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence 2024 © Monika Rittershaus

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Having caught up with Katie Mitchell’s Aix production, Pelléas will never quite be the same again

FranceFrance Festival d’Aix-en-Provence [2] – Debussy, Pelléas et Mélisande: Soloists, Chorus (chorus master: Benedict Kearns) and Orchestra of the Lyon Opera / Susanna Mälkki (conductor). Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, 9.7.2024. (MB)

Pelléas et Mélisande at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence 2024 © Jean-Louis Fernandez

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This Aix-en-Provence production quietly, powerfully rethought and reimagined Madama Butterfly

FranceFrance Festival d’Aix-en-Provence [1] – Puccini, Madama Butterfly: Soloists, Lyon Opera Chorus (chorus master: Benedict Kearns), Lyon Opera Orchestra / Daniele Rustoni (conductor). Théâtre de l’Archeveché, Aix-en-Provence, 8.7.2024. (MB)

Festival d’Aix-en-Provence 2024: Madama Butterfly © Ruth Walz

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Alan Gilbert leads a superb account of Honegger’s Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher

GermanyGermany Honegger’s Jeanne d’Arc au bûcher: Soloists, Vokalhelden Children’s Choir (directors: Johannes David Wolff, Judith Kamphues), MDR Radio Chorus (director: Philipp Ahmann), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Alan Gilbert (conductor). Philharmonie Berlin, 8.6.2024. (MB)

Jeanne d’Arc (spoken, Marion Cotillard) and Brother Dominique (spoken, Eric Génovèse) © Bettina Stöss

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