Spain Mozart, Die Zauberflöte: Soloists, Generalitat Valenciana Chorus, Comunitat Valenciana Orchestra / James Gaffigan (conductor). Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia, 8.6.2024. (JMI)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
An excellent production in Madrid of a Caccini opera from 400 years ago
Spain Francesca Caccini, La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’Isola d’Alcina: Forma Antiqva, Soloists of the Orchestra of the Teatro Real / Aarón Zapico (conductor). Teatros del Canal, Madrid, 7.6.2024. (JMI)
The Sarasota Ballet at the Linbury Theatre are preserving Sir Frederick Ashton’s rich legacy
United Kingdom Sarasota Ballet’s Valses nobles et sentimentales / Divertissements / Façade: Dancers of Sarasota Ballet. Royal Opera House Linbury Theatre, London, 6.6.2024. (JO’D)
A thoughtful staging and fine performance of Mozart’s Lucio Silla in Salzburg
Austria Mozart, Lucio Silla: Soloists, Chorus of the Salzburg Landestheater, Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra / Carlo Benedetto Cimento (conductor). Salzburg Landestheater, 4.6.2024. (MB)
As beauty ruled supreme: Dudamel and the LA Phil’s moving and meaningful Fidelio
United Kingdom Beethoven, Fidelio: Soloists, Deaf West Theatre (Los Angeles), Coro de Manos Blancas (White Hands Choir, Venezuela), Cor de Cambra del Palau de la Música Catalana, Cor del Gran Teatre del Liceu, Los Angeles Philharmonic / Gustavo Dudamel (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 3.6.2024. (AK)
Klaus Florian Vogt as Paul leads a mesmerizing Die tote Stadt in Hamburg
Germany Korngold, Die tote Stadt: Soloists, Chorus, Extra Chorus, Alsterspatzen (children and youth chorus) of Staatsoper Hamburg. Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg / Yoel Gamzou (conductor). Staatsoper Hamburg; 5.6.2024. (DMD)
An intriguing, if unevenly sung, Médée from William Christie and Les Arts Florissants in Madrid
Spain Charpentier, Médée: Chorus and Orchestra of Les Arts Florissants / William Christie (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 6.6.2024. (JMI)
Finnish National Opera’s intense Götterdämmerung completes its Ring
Finland Wagner, Götterdämmerung: Soloists, Finnish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Hannu Lintu (conductor). Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 25.5.2024. (AA)