NT Live’s Jack Absolute Flies Again was wonderfully farcical and funny

United KingdomUnited Kingdom National Theatre’s Jack Absolute Flies Again (by Richard Bean and Oliver Chris and based on Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals): Filmed (directed by Tony Grech-Smith) at the Olivier Theatre, London, and screened by National Theatre Live at Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 6.10.2022. (JPr)

Laurie Davidson (Jack Absolute) and Peter Forbes (Sir Anthony Absolute) © Brinkhoff Moegenburg

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Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling remains a wonderful company showcase for the Royal Ballet

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Koen Kessels (conductor). Directed for the screen by Ross MacGibbon and relayed to Cineworld Basildon, Essex. 5.10.2022. (JPr)

Natalia Osipova (Mary Vetsera) and Ryoichi Hirano (Prince Rudolf) © Helen Maybanks

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Maria Agresta’s Cio-Cio-San reaches great emotional heights in an evocative Madama Butterfly revival

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Puccini, Madama Butterfly: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Nicola Luisotti (conductor). Recorded (directed by Rhodri Huw) at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on 27.9.2022 and shown at the Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, Essex, 3.10.2022. (JPr)

Christine Rice (Suzuki) and Maria Agresta (Butterfly) © Tristram Kenton

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Bieito’s Carmen gets memorable performances in Vienna from Garanča and Beczała

AustriaAustria Bizet, CarmenSoloists, Children of the Opera School, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Yves Abel (conductor). Performed at the Vienna State Opera and livestreamed (directed by Jasmina Eleta) on 12.9.2022. (JPr)

Elīna Garanča (centre, Carmen) and Piotr Beczała (right, Don José) © Wiener Staatsoper

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Lahav Shani conducts an outstandingly memorable Mahler’s First Symphony at Berlin’s Musikfest

GermanyGermany Musikfest Berlin 2022 [5] – Ligeti, Pijper, Mahler: Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra / Lahav Shani (conductor). Philharmonie Hall, Berlin, 4.9.2022, and livestreamed on Digital Concert Hall. (GT)

Lahav Shani conducts the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra © Fabian Schellhorn

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