The beautiful Emilio Sagi staging of Le nozze di Figaro opens the opera season in Valencia
07/10/2019
Spain Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro: Generalitat Valenciana Chorus, Comunitat Valenciana Orchestra / Christopher Moulds (conductor), Palau de Les Arts, Valencia, 6.10.2019. (JMI)
Le nozze di Figaro (c) M. Lorenzo y M. Ponce
Much to ponder in the new production of Tristan und Isolde in Leipzig
07/10/2019
Germany Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, Leipzig Opera Chorus (chorus director: Thomas Eitler-de Lint), Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra / Ulf Schirmer (conductor). Leipzig Opera House, Leipzig, 5.10.2019. (MB)
Oper Leipzig’s Tristan und Isolde (c) Tom Schulze
Delightful, effervescent and so much fun: The Love for Three Oranges in Philadelphia
05/10/2019
United States Festival O19 [3] – Prokofiev, The Love for Three Oranges: Soloists, Opera Philadelphia Chorus & Orchestra / Corrado Rovaris (conductor), Opera Philadelphia, Academy of Music, Philadelphia, 29.9.2019. (RP)
Jonathan Johnson (Prince), Ben Wager (Farfarello) and Barry Banks (Truffaldino)
© Kelly & Massa
Nicolai’s best-known opera finely sung and played in Berlin
04/10/2019
Germany Nicolai, Die lustige Weiben von Windsor: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus master: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (conductor), Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 3.10.2019. (MB)
(c) Monika Rittershaus
Rossini’s Barber opens a new season at Lyric Opera of Chicago
04/10/2019
United States Rossini, The Barber of Seville: Soloists, Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago / Sir Andrew Davis (conductor). Civic Opera House, Chicago. 28.9.2019. (JLZ)
Adam Plachetka, Marianne Crebassa, & Lawrence Brownlee
in The Barber of Seville (c) Todd Rosenberg
‘Viva Verdi!’ – Plácido Domingo’s 50th Anniversary Gala at Arena di Verona
04/10/2019
Italy Verdi, Plácido Domingo 50th Anniversary Gala at the Arena di Verona: Plácido Domingo (baritone) and soloists, Ballet, Chorus and Orchestra of Arena di Verona / Jordi Bernàcer (conductor). Recorded on 4th August and shown at Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 1.10.2019 (JPr)
Denis & Katya: Philip Venables’ compelling opera premieres at Festival O19
02/10/2019
United States Festival O19 [2] – Philip Venables, Denis & Katya: Emily Edmonds (mezzo-soprano), Johnny Herford (baritone), Branson Yeast, Rose Bart, Jean Kim, Jennie Lorenzo (cellos) / Emily Senturia (musical director), Philadelphia Opera, The Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Philadelphia, 28.9.2019. (RP)
Denis & Katya © Dominic M. Mercier
Redeemed by love and still in ruins: Zurich revives Hermann’s smart La traviata with excellent singing
02/10/2019
Switzerland Verdi, La traviata: Soloists and Chorus of the Opernhaus Zürich / Fabio Luisi (conductor), Opernhaus Zürich, Zurich, 26.9.2019. (CCr)
Kristina Mkhitaryan (Violetta Valéry) (c) Toni Suter
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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 
