Alagna and Radvanovsky Transcend Criticism in Giordano’s Overwrought Andrea Chénier
22/05/2019
Giordano, Andrea Chénier: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Daniel Oren (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 20.5.2019. (JPr)
Roberto Alagna (Andrea Chénier) & Sondra Radvanovsky (Maddalena)
(c) Tristram Kenton
Opera North’s Aida is Superb in Music and Concept
22/05/2019
Verdi, Aida: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North / Sir Richard Armstrong (conductor), Usher Hall, Edinburgh, 21.5.2019. (SRT)
Opera North’s Aida (c) Clive Barda
A World Class performance of Die Walküre at Teatro di San Carlo
22/05/2019
Wagner, Die Walküre: Soloists, Dancers, Orchestra of San Carlo Theatre / Juraj Valčuha (conductor), Teatro di San Carlo, Naples, 18.5.2019. (GT)
Act III (opening scene) of Die Walküre (c) Luciano Romano
Wonderful Recital from Magdalena Kožená and Yefim Bronfman
22/05/2019
Brahms, Mussorgsky, Shostakovich, Bartók: Magdalena Kožená (mezzo-soprano), Yefim Bronfman (piano). Barbican Hall, London, 20.5.2019. (CC)
Magdelena Kožená © Harald Hoffmann
Charming Rarities from CityMusic Cleveland
21/05/2019
F. Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns, Kodály: Amit Peled (cello), CityMusic Cleveland / Mélisse Brunet (conductor), St. Jerome Church, Cleveland, Ohio, 19.5.2019. (MSJ) Read more
Disappointing Mahler Eighth in Bregenz Despite Kirill Petrenko’s Best Efforts
21/05/2019
Mahler: Sarah Wegener (soprano), Elza van den Heever (soprano), Letizia Scherrer (soprano), Claudia Mahnke (mezzo-soprano), Diana Haller (mezzo-soprano), Norbert Ernst (tenor), Daniel Boaz (baritone), Kwangchul Youn (bass), Salzburger Bachchor, Bregenzer Festspielchor, Children’s Chorus of the Music Middle School of Bregenz, Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg / Kirill Petrenko (conductor). Festspielhaus, Bregenz, 18.5.2019. (JR)
Mahler and Kirill Petrenko
NEW! ‘MUSICAL MAGIC’: AN INTERVIEW WITH VIOLINIST HENNING KRAGGERUD
21/05/2019
Geoffrey Newman in Conversation with Henning Kraggerud
Henning Kraggerud © Robert Romic
There are few artists who convey a greater sense of communication and discovery in the concert hall than Norwegian violinist Henning Kraggerud. There is a life-enhancing glow in his appearances, and one surmises that his bountiful inspiration must come from somewhere – perhaps from a tradition that stresses experimentation and an almost Renaissance diversity in musical reach. Kraggerud is not only a beautifully fine-toned and sensitive violin soloist and chamber musician, but a devoted educator, a play/direct specialist, a (sometimes) violist and a composer. Read more
Rhymes With Opera Explores Loneliness and Love in Two World Premieres
20/05/2019
2019 New York Opera Fest [4] – Colin Read, On Loneliness and Solitude; Daniel Thomas Davis, The Impossible She: Soloists, Rhymes With Orchestra / George Lam (conductor), Rhymes With Opera, 124 Bank Street Theatre, New York, 17.5.2019. (RP)
Bonnie Lander, Elisabeth Halliday and Zach Herchen in The Impossible She
© Janette Pellegrini
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