International Opera

All opera reviews from sources other that the UK

Krzysztof Warlikowski’s new Elektra production ushers in 2020’s resurrected 100th Salzburg Festival

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AustriaAustria Richard Strauss, Elektra: Soloists, Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus (chorus master: Ernst Raffelsberger), Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Franz Welser-Möst (conductor). Review of 1.8.2020 performance (directed for the screen by Miriam Hoyer) in Salzburg’s Felsenreitschule and streamed on ARTE Concert. (JPr)

Aušrinė Stundytė (Elektra) and Derek Welton (Orest) © Bernd Uhlig

Read moreKrzysztof Warlikowski’s new Elektra production ushers in 2020’s resurrected 100th Salzburg Festival

Viva La Diva! Anna Netrebko sang Tosca in Naples and brought some light to our current darkness

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ItalyItaly Puccini, Tosca (concert version): Soloists, Chorus (chorus master: Gea Garatti Ansini), Children Chorus (chorus master: Stefania Rinaldi), and Orchestra of Teatro di San Carlo / Juraj Valčuha (conductor). July 2020 performance in the Piazza del Plebiscito, live streamed and reviewed on 30.7.2020. (JPr)

Ludovic Tézier (Scarpia) & Anna Netrebko (Tosca) © Mario Wurzburger

Read moreViva La Diva! Anna Netrebko sang Tosca in Naples and brought some light to our current darkness

Watching this 1982 Met Tannhäuser – with Cassilly, Marton and Weikl – after nearly four decades leaves strong abiding memories

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United StatesUnited States Wagner, Tannhäuser: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / James Levine (conductor). Performance of 20.12.1982 and reviewed as a Nightly Met Opera Stream on 22.7.2020. (JPr)

Éva Marton (Elisabeth) and Richard Cassilly (Tannhäuser)

Read moreWatching this 1982 Met Tannhäuser – with Cassilly, Marton and Weikl – after nearly four decades leaves strong abiding memories

Madrid’s Teatro Real is back in business with La traviata

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SpainSpain Verdi, La traviata: Teatro Real Chorus and Orchestra / Nicola Luisotti (conductor). Semi-staged performane live streamed from Teatro Real, Madrid, 15.7.2020. (JMI)

Teatro Real’s La traviata. (c) J. del Real

Read moreMadrid’s Teatro Real is back in business with La traviata

In 2020 Ben Heppner and Jane Eaglen sing once again to us in the Met’s 1999 Tristan und Isolde

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United StatesUnited States Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / James Levine (conductor). Performance of 11.12.1999 reviewed as a Nightly Met Opera Stream on 13.7.2020. (JPr)

Jane Eaglen and Ben Heppner in the Met’s Tristan und Isolde

Read moreIn 2020 Ben Heppner and Jane Eaglen sing once again to us in the Met’s 1999 Tristan und Isolde

Singers show what San Francisco Opera missed due to the pandemic

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United StatesUnited States San Francisco Opera, Celebrating the Summer Season: Michelle Bradley (soprano), Louise Alder (soprano), Sasha Cooke (mezzo-soprano), Russell Thomas (tenor), Jakub Józef Orliński (countertenor), Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Eun Sun Kim (conductor), Various locations, 10.7.2020. (HS)

Matthew Shilvock (host), Russell Thomas (tenor), & Michelle Bradley (soprano)

Read moreSingers show what San Francisco Opera missed due to the pandemic

Luxuriating in legendary voices and grand style in the Met’s 1988 Il trovatore

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United StatesUnited States Verdi, Il trovatore: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / James Levine (conductor). 15.10.1988 performance reviewed as Nightly Met Opera Stream on 7.7.2020. (RP)

Éva Marton (top l), Delora Zajick, Sherill Milnes & Luciano Pavarotti (bottom l) 

Read moreLuxuriating in legendary voices and grand style in the Met’s 1988 Il trovatore

Beverly Sills bid farewell to the Met in this 1978 Don Pasquale as we say farewell to Gabriel Bacquier in 2020

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United StatesUnited States Donizetti, Don Pasquale: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Nicola Rescigno (conductor). 11.1.1979 performance reviewed as Nightly Met Opera Stream on 5.7.2020. (JPr)

The Metropolitan Opera’s Don Pasquale

Read moreBeverly Sills bid farewell to the Met in this 1978 Don Pasquale as we say farewell to Gabriel Bacquier in 2020