Germany Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Soloists, Extra Chorus & Chorus of Bonn Theatre / Beethoven Orchestra Bonn / Dirk Kaftan (conductor). Bonn Theatre, 3.10.2024. (DM-D)
Remarkable storytelling and role debuts in Bonn’s Die Meistersinger
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance at the Cliffs Pavilion deserves yet another standing ovation
United Kingdom Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance – A Lifetime of Standing Ovations: Cliffs Pavilion, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, 8.10.2024. (JPr)
Barlett Sher’s Tales of Hoffmann revival at the Met loses the emotional core of this complex opera
United States Offenbach, Les contes d’Hoffmann: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Marco Armiliato (conductor). Broadcast Live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 5.10.2024. (JPr)
Programmed with Inger’s frenetic Impasse, it is Forsythe’s Blake Works 1 which has the Paris audience sighing
France William Forsythe/Johan Inger: Paris Opera Ballet, Palais Garnier, Paris, 4.10.2024. (JO’D)
Chicago Opera Theater’s Leonora shines light on Ferdinando Paër’s overlooked masterpiece
United States Ferdinando Paër, Leonora: Soloists and Orchestra of Chicago Opera Theater / Dame Jane Glover (conductor). Studebaker Theater, Chicago, 4.10.2024. (ZC)
This was a fine ENO Bohème and the frisson of an unexpected cast change certainly helped
United Kingdom Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus of St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera / Clelia Cafiero (conductor). London Coliseum, 3.10.2024. (CC)
English Touring Opera’s fresh, engaging account of Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snowmaiden
United Kingdom Rimsky-Korsakov, The Snowmaiden: Soloists, Choral Ensemble, Orchestra of English Touring Opera / Hannah Quinn (conductor). Hackney Empire, London, 28.9.2024. (MB)
Berlin revival of Respighi’s La fiamma after 90 years leaves no one untouched
Germany Respighi, La fiamma: Soloists, Chorus, Extra Chorus and Children’s Chorus of Deutsche Oper Berlin, Orchestra of Deutsche Oper Berlin / Carlo Rizzi (conductor). Deutsche Oper Berlin, 29.9.2024. (AB)
