International Opera

All opera reviews from sources other that the UK

San Francisco Opera’s The Handmaid’s Tale could not be timelier, even if the music feels dated

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United StatesUnited States Poul Ruders, The Handmaid’s Tale: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Karen Kamensek (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 14.9.2024. (HS)

The Commander (John Relyea), Offred (Irene Roberts) and Serena Joy (Lindsay Ammann) © Corey Weaver/SFO

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Porpora’s Ifigenia in Aulide is yet another triumph for the Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival

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GermanyGermany Bayreuth Baroque Opera Festival 2024 [2] – Nicola Antonio Porpora’s Ifigenia in Aulide: Soloists, Actors, Les Talens Lyriques / Christophe Rousset (conductor). Markgräfliches Opernhaus, Bayreuth, 7.9.2024. (AB)

Porpora’s Ifigenia in Aulide Act I © Clemens Manser Photography

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Full-throttle celebration of Die Fledermaus at Musikfest Bremen

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Musikfest Bremen 2024 [2] – Johann Strauss II, Die Fledermaus: Soloists, Musikfest Bremen Chorus, Les Musiciens du Louvre / Marc Minkowski (conductor). Die Glocke, Bremen, 6.9.2024. (DMD)

Marc Minkowski, Alina Wunderlin, Rachel Willis-Sørensen, and Christoph Filler © Patric Leo

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An excellent cast brings Peter Sellars’s Salzburg production of The Gambler vividly to life

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AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival 2024 [10] – Prokofiev, The Gambler: Soloists, Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Timur Zangiev (conductor). Felsenreitschule, Salzburg, 25.8.2024. (MB)

[l-r] Sean Panikkar (Alexey), Violeta Urmana (Babulenka) and Asmik Grigorian (Polina) © SF/Ruth Walz)

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Excellent cast let down by lifeless conducting and a confusing Salzburg production of Les contes d’Hoffmann

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AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival 2024 [8] – Offenbach, Les contes d’Hoffmann: Soloists, Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Marc Minkowski (conductor). Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 24.8.2024. (MB)

Les contes d’Hoffmann: Benjamin Bernheim (Hoffmann), Kate Lindsey (Muse/Nicklausse) and Kathryn Lewek (Stella) © SF/Monika Rittershaus

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Rossini’s Ermione receives a visually overwhelming production in Pesaro

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ItalyItaly Rossini Opera Festival 2024 [2] – Rossini, Ermione: Soloists, Coro del teatro ventidio basso, Orchestra sinfonica nazionale della RAI / Michele Mariotti (conductor). Vitrifrigo Arena, Pesaro, 9.8.2024. (AB)

Anastasia Bartoli (Ermione) and  Juan Diego Flórez (Oreste) © Amati Biaccardi

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