Spain Purcell, Dido and Aeneas: Soloists, Les Arts Florissants / William Christie (conductor). Teatros del Canal, Madrid, 21.1.2023. (JMI)
William Christie leads Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas in a memorable new Madrid production
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Edward Gardner and the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra make a first Parsifal a memorable one
Norway Wagner, Parsifal (staged concert): Soloists, Bergen Philharmonic Choir, Edvard Grieg Kor, Edvard Grieg Jentekor, Edvard Grieg Guttekor, Collegium Musicums Choir (chorus master: Håkon Matti Skrede) and Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra / Edward Gardner (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Marius Marthinussen Søreide) on Bergenphilive and OperaVision (and available until 21.5.2023) from the Grieg Hall, Bergen, 21.1.2023. (JPr)
Sondra Radvanovsky triumphs as Tosca in a controversial Barcelona production
Spain Puccini, Tosca: Chorus and Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu / Henrik Nánási and Giacomo Sagripanti (conductors). Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 18, 19 and 20.1.2023. (JMI)
Christopher Wheeldon’s Like Water for Chocolate for The Royal Ballet provides food for thought
United Kingdom The Royal Ballet’s Like Water for Chocolate: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Siân Griffiths (mezzo-soprano), Tomás Barreiro (guitar), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Alondra de la Parra (conductor). Recorded (directed by Ross MacGibbon) at the Royal Opera House, Covent, Garden, 9.6.2022 and shown at Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 19.1.2023. (JPr)
Netrebko leads a fine cast and an exceptional orchestra breathing life into a venerable Vienna La bohème
Austria Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Bertrand de Billy (conductor). Recorded (directed by Jakob Pitzer) at Vienna State Opera on 11.9.2022 and streamed on 14.2.2023. (JPr)
Emma O’Halloran’s Mary Motorhead and Trade premiere at Prototype
United States Prototype 2023 [2] – Emma O’Halloran, Trade and Mary Motorhead: Kyle Bielfield, Marc Kudisch, Naomi Louisa O’Connell (performers), Novus NY / Elaine Kelly (music direction). Abrons Arts Center, New York, 13.1.2023. (RP)
Thanks to Yoncheva and Beczała at the Met, Fedora was worth seeing once but never again
United Kingdom Giordano, Fedora: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Marco Armiliato (conductor). Broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 14.1.2023. (JPr)
Derek Deane’s Swan Lake for English National Ballet is both satisfying and coherent
United Kingdom English National Ballet’s Swan Lake: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Daniel Parkinson (conductor). London Coliseum, 12.1.2023. (JO’D)
