Opera & Ballet

Collected opera and ballet reviews

Gilbert’s witticisms at their best: Princess Ida at Buxton is a G&S delight

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival 2025 [1] – National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, Princess Ida: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company / John Andrews (conductor). Buxton Opera House, Derbyshire, 9.8.2025. (RW)

National Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company’s Princess Ida © Charles Smith

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Sofia Ballet’s freshly exciting Romeo and Juliet is a terrific success in the setting of Pancherovo Lake  

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BulgariaBulgaria Muses on the Water Summer Festival – Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet: Soloists, Corps de Ballet and Orchestra of Sofia Ballet / Igor Bogdanov (conductor), Pancherovo Lake, Sofia, 1.8.2024. (GT)

Marta Petkova (Juliet) and Frederico Pinto (Romeo)

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Tautly focused The Turn of the Screw creates a creepy psychological mood at Santa Fe Opera

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United StatesUnited States Britten, The Turn of the Screw: Soloists, chorus and orchestra of Santa Fe Opera / Gemma New (conductor). Crosby Theatre, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 1.8.2025. (HS)

Jacquelyn Stucker (The Governess), Everett Baumgarten (Miles) and Brenton Ryan (Peter Quint) in The Turn of the Screw © Curtis Brown

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John Matthew Myers stars in a triumphant revival of Smetana’s Dalibor at Bard

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United StatesUnited States Smetana, Dalibor: Soloists, Bard Festival Chorale, American Symphony Orchestra / Leon Botstein (conductor). SummerScape Opera, Fischer Center at Bard, Annandale-on-Hudson, 30.8.2025. (RP)

Cadie J. Bryan (Milada) and John Matthew Myers (Dalibor) © Maria Baranova

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For the Liceu’s West Side Story with its star singers, the Oscar goes to … Gustavo Dudamel

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SpainSpain Bernstein, West Side Story (concert version): Soloists, Chorus (chorus director: Pablo Assante) and Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu / Gustavo Dudamel (conductor). Gran Teatro del Liceu, Barcelona, 29.7.2025. (JMI)

Juan Diego Flórez (Tony) and Nadine Sierra (Maria) © D. Ruano

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