Wayne McGregor’s The Dante Project proves to be Edward Watson’s thought-provoking, poignant farewell

United KingdomUnited Kingdom The Royal Ballet’s The Dante Project: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, London Symphony Chorus (choral director: Simon Halsey), Orchestra of The Royal Opera House / Koen Kessels (conductor). Recorded (directed by Ross MacGibbon) when performed at the Opera House, Covent Garden, London, on 26.10.2021 and streamed from 20.12.2021. (JPr)

The Dante Project – Inferno: Pilgrim (c) Andrej Uspensk

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VOCES8’s Messiah LIVE from London offered a beacon of hope in frustratingly uncertain times

United KingdomUnited Kingdom LIVE from London Christmas 2021 – Handel’s Messiah, HWV 56: Mary Bevan (soprano), Bethany Horak-Hallett (mezzo-soprano); Nicholas Mulroy (tenor), Dingle Yandell (bass), The VOCES8 Foundation Choir, VOCES8, VOCES8 Baroque Orchestra / Barnaby Smith (conductor). Recorded at St Jude-on-the-Hill, London, streamed on 18.12.2021. (CC)

Barnaby Smith conducts VOCES8’s combined forces in the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus

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Gergiev’s Mariinsky proves there is much to admire in Tchaikovsky’s The Enchantress

Russian FederationRussian Federation Tchaikovsky, The Enchantress: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre / Valery Gergiev (conductor). Mariinsky II, St Petersburg, 4.12.2021. (GT)

Mariinsky Theatre’s The Enchantress (c) Valentin Baranovsky

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Yasmine Naghdi and Cesar Corrales lead The Royal Ballet on their very best form in The Nutcracker

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Koen Kessels (conductor). Encore screening (directed by Peter Jones) at Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, of the 9.12.2021 performance at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 13.12.2021. (JPr)

Isabella Gasparini (Clara) and Luca Acri (Hans-Peter) © Foteini Christofilopoulou

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Irina Churilova sings a magnificent Fevronia at the Mariinsky in Rimsky-Korsakov’s late opera

Russian FederationRussian Federation Rimsky-Korsakov, The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia: Singers, Chorus and Orchestra of the Mariinsky Theatre / Pavel Smelkov (conductor). Mariinsky II, St Petersburg, 30.11.2021. (GT)

Mariinsky Theatre’s The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevronia

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Barrie Kosky’s new Vienna Don Giovanni is caught between a rock and a hard place

AustriaAustria Mozart, Don Giovanni: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Philippe Jordan (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Ella Gallieni) from Vienna State Opera, 5.12.2021. (JPr)

Philippe Sly (l, Leporello) and Kyle Ketelson (r, Don Giovanni) (c) Michael Poehn

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