United Kingdom Natalia Horečná’s La Strada: ACWorkroom Ltd, Sadler’s Wells, London, 25.1.2024. (JO’D)
The music of La Strada, the visual inventiveness, and Alina Cojocaru hold the audience’s attention
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Angela Gheorghiu and Stefan Pop make the current Covent Garden La bohème revival something special
United Kingdom Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Evelino Pidò (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 25.1.2024. (JPr)
Dresden’s Tristan und Isolde takes Wagner to a new level of excellence
Germany Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Christian Thielemann (conductor). Semperoper Dresden, 21.1.2024. (DMD)
Orchestral and vocal riches as Daphne is revived at Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden
Germany Richard Strauss, Daphne: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin / Thomas Guggeis (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 20.1.2024. (MB)
Leipzig Opera’s eco-friendly staging of Musgrave’s Mary, Queen of Scots is a right royal success
Germany Thea Musgrave, Mary, Queen of Scots: Soloists, Actors and Chorus of Leipzig Opera, Gewandhaus Orchestra / Matthias Foremny (conductor), Leipzig Opera, 12.1.2024. (GT)
Così fan tutte at the Komische Oper Berlin is a true ensemble performance in every respect
Germany Mozart, Così fan tutte: Soloists, Choral Soloists (director: Jean-Christophe Charron) and Orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin / Erina Yashima (conductor). Schillertheater, Berlin, 14.1.2024. (MB)
Leipzig’s superbly cast Tosca has an original and visually stunning production
Germany Puccini: Tosca: Soloists, Chorus of Leipzig Opera and Gewandhaus Orchestra / Moritz Gnann (conductor). Leipzig Opera, 10.1.2024. (GT)
An excellent performance of Langgaard’s Antikrist but the work itself is at best bewildering
Germany Langgaard, Antikrist: Soloists, Chorus, Opera-Ballet, and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin / Hermann Bäumer (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 13.1.2024. (MB)
