Delightful Swedish Magic Flute revival premieres in Stockholm
22/10/2019
Sweden Mozart, Trollflöjten (The Magic Flute): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Swedish Opera / Anna Skryleva (conductor), Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm, 18.10.2019. (GF)
Jens Persson (Papageno) and bears © Carl Thorborg
Musical magic in Nicola Raab’s dark, grim Rusalka for Opéra national du Rhin
21/10/2019
France Dvořák, Rusalka: Soloists, Chœurs de l’Opéra national du Rhin, Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg / Antony Hermus (conductor), Opéra national du Rhin, Strasbourg, 19.10.2019. (RP)
Pumeza Matshikiza (Rusalka) and Bryan Register (Prince)
© Klara Beck
A disappointing Munich Salome production is redeemed by Marlis Petersen in the title role
19/10/2019
Germany R. Strauss, Salome: Bayerisches Staatsorchester / Kirill Petrenko (conductor). Nationaltheater, Munich, 13.10.2019. (MC)
Marlis Petersen (Salome) © Wilfried Hösl
Munich’s timely birthday anniversary revival of Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann
18/10/2019
Germany Offenbach, Les contes d’Hoffmann: Soloists, Chor der Bayerischen Staatsoper, Statisterie Bayerischen Staatsoper, Bayerisches Staatsorchester / Constantin Trinks (conductor), Nationaltheater, Munich, 11.10.2019. (MC)
Bayerischen Staatsoper’s Les contes d’Hoffmann © W. Hösl
In Chicago, after 30 years, a welcome return of Luisa Miller
18/10/2019
United States Verdi, Luisa Miller: Soloists, Orchestra of Lyric Opera of Chicago / Enrique Mazzola (conductor). Civic Opera House, Chicago. 12.10.2019. (JLZ)
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Luisa Miller (c) Todd Rosenberg
Giving the devil his due, Zurich revives a riotous Der Freischütz
17/10/2019
Switzerland Weber: Der Freischütz: Soloists and Chorus of the Opernhaus Zürich / Axel Kober (conductor), Opernhaus Zürich, Zurich, 29.9.2019 and 4.10.2019. (CCr)
Zurich Opera’s Der Freischütz (c) Hans Jörg Michel
A fine, unsettling production of Katya Kabanova in Berlin
16/10/2019
United Kingdom Janáček, Katya Kabanova: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus director: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin / Thomas Guggeis (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 12.10.2019. (MB)
Staatsoper Berlin,
Katja Kabanova: (credit: Bernd Uhlig)
Opéra Royal de Versailles’ revival of Grétry’s Richard Coeur de Lion is an unmissable and revelatory experience
16/10/2019
France Grétry, Richard Coeur de Lion: Soloists, Ballet of Opéra Royal, Versailles; Chorus and Orchestra of Le Concert Spirituel / Hervé Niquet (conductor). Opéra Royal de Versailles, France, 10.10.2019. (CC)
Opéra Royal de Versailles’ Richard Coeur de Lion (c) Agathe Poupeney
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This joyous set of Beethoven's sonatas takes its place among the very best. [...]In its own way, the Seven Words of Christ is just as sublime as the Stabat Mater. [...]This sensitive, dynamic recording is a joy, and may even constitute a revelation. [...]The pair exhibits a refined style on these illuminating performances. [...]A deeply affecting experience that ought to win the opera many new admirers. [...]
This joyous set of Beethoven's sonatas takes its place among the very best. 
In its own way, the Seven Words of Christ is just as sublime as the Stabat Mater. 
This sensitive, dynamic recording is a joy, and may even constitute a revelation. 
The pair exhibits a refined style on these illuminating performances. 
A deeply affecting experience that ought to win the opera many new admirers. 
David McVicar's production of 'Die Zauberflöte' is filled with nocturnal high-jinks 
All three movements are so intricately packed with incident that one is tempted to simply let onesel 
Kenneth MacMillan's bouncy 'Concerto', Frederick Ashton's 'Enigma Variation 
