United States Verdi, Lady M: Soloists, Band / Daniel Schlosberg (conductor). Heartbeat Opera, Baruch Performing Arts Center, New York, 14.3.2023. (RP)
Heartbeat Opera’s Lady M puts a new spin on Shakespeare and Verdi
Festivals
Two relatively little-known Bartók pieces feature in a top-quality concert in Budapest
Hungary Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks 2023 festival [2]: Dénes Várjon (pianist), Concerto Budapest / András Keller (conductor). Great Hall of Music Academy, Budapest, 1.4.2023. (AK)
Seong-Jin Cho and Semyon Bychkov’s Czech Philharmonic truly distinguish themselves in Budapest
Hungary Bartók Spring International Arts Weeks 2023 festival [1]: Semyon Bychkov (conductor), Seong-Jin Cho (pianist), Czech Philharmonic. MŰPA, Budapest, 31.3.2023. (AK)
Götterdämmerung ends a Berlin Ring which challenged and taught us much, moving us too
Germany Berlin Festtage [4] – Wagner, Götterdämmerung: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus director: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin / Thomas Guggeis (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 10.4.2023. (MB)
Fine singing, playing and characterisation in Siegfried as Dmitri Tcherniakov’s Ring unfolds further
Germany Berlin Festtage [4] – Wagner, Siegfried: Soloists, Staatskapelle Berlin / Thomas Guggeis (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 8.4.2023. (MB)
Jérémie Rhorer fails to penetrate to the heart of Beethoven’s Missa solemnis
Germany Berlin Festtage [3] – Beethoven: Camilla Nylund (soprano), Anna Kissjudit (mezzo-soprano), Saimir Pirgu (tenor), René Pape (bass), Staatsopern Chor Berlin (chorus director: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin / Jérémie Rhorer (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 7.4.2023. (MB)
Die Walküre imaginatively set in a police state and marvellously performed in Berlin
Germany Berlin Festtage [2] – Wagner, Die Walküre: Soloists, Staatskapelle Berlin / Thomas Guggeis (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 5.4.2023. (MB)
‘Follow the science’: the start of an intriguing new perspective on the Ring cycle in Berlin
Germany Berlin Festtage [1] – Wagner, Das Rheingold: Actors, Soloists, Staatskapelle Berlin / Thomas Guggeis (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 4.4.2023. (MB)
