United States Courtney Bryan’s Blessed & Angélica Negrón’s The Island We Made: Available to stream until 31.5.2021 on the Opera Philadelphia Channel, 30.3.2021. (RP)
Pushing the envelope: drag queens and saints on the Opera Philadelphia Channel
International Opera
All opera reviews from sources other that the UK
Gothenburg’s shining Siegfried gloriously surmounts the challenges of producing opera in a pandemic
Sweden Wagner, Siegfried: Soloists, Dancers, Gothenburg Opera Orchestra / Evan Rogister (conductor). Pre-recorded on Gothenburg Opera main stage for digital streaming only and premiered 26-28.3.2021. (NS)
Barrie Kosky’s disappoiningly unfunny Munich Der Rosenkavalier is redeemed by some strong singing
Germany Richard Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Bavarian State Opera / Vladimir Jurowski (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Henning Kasten) on Arte.tv (click here) from the National Theatre, Munich, 21.3.2021. (JPr)
Conor Mitchell’s new opera for children is not without a dark side
Ireland Conor Mitchell’s The Musician: A Horror Opera for Children: Soloists, The Belfast Ensemble / Tom Brady (Conductor), Livestreamed from Belfast’s Lyric Theatre as part of 2021 Belfast Children’s Festival, 12.3.2021. (RB)
Getting virtually around the Ring with San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera’s Ring Festival passes the halfway mark More than halfway through San Francisco Opera’s virtual Ring Festival, it is clear that a good deal of thought and creativity have gone into it, even beyond director Francesca Zambello’s decidedly American take on Richard Wagner’s four-opera marathon. Before the wrap-up on the weekend of 27-28 March, … Read more
Social distancing is no bar to an excellent La bohème from Irish National Opera
Ireland Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Irish National Opera / Sergio Alapont (conductor). Livestreamed from the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin, 13.3.2021. (RB)
Christof Loy’s new Francesca da Rimini at Deutsche Oper Berlin: is it worth the effort?
Germany Riccardo Zandonai, Francesca da Rimini: Soloists, Extras, Chorus and Orchestra of Deutsche Oper Berlin / Carlo Rizzi (conductor). Livestream directed by Gotz Filenius from Deutsche Oper Berlin, 14.3.2021. (JPr)
Barbora Horáková Joly’s new Prague Rigoletto combines cutting-edge production with Vincenzo Milletarì’s traditional musical virtues
Czech Republic Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists, The State Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Vincenzo Milletarì (conductor), Národní divadlo, Prague. Recorded on 30.1 and 2.2.2021 at the State Opera and available throughout March 2021. (RP)
