Opera & Ballet

Collected opera and ballet reviews

Opera North’s La rondine proves a balm for our troubles today

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Puccini, La rondine: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North / Kerem Hasan (conductor). Lyric Theatre, The Lowry, Salford Quays, 17.11.2023. (MC)

Laura-Kelly McInroy (Suzy), Kathryn Sharpe (Bianca), Pasquale Orchard (Yvette), Philip Smith (Rambaldo), Sébastien Guèze (Ruggero), Satriya Krisna (Goblin), Ross McInroy (Périchaud) © Tristram Kenton

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You’ll remember Asmik Grigorian’s singing as Salome long after Dmitri Tcherniakov’s production is forgotten

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GermanyGermany Richard Strauss, Salome: Soloists, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg / Kent Nagano (conductor). Recorded live (directed by Andy Sommer) at the Staatsoper Hamburg on 29.11.2023 and available until 27.4.2024 on ARTE Concert. (JPr)

John Daszak (Herod), Kyle Ketelsen (Jokanaan) and Asmik Grigorian (Salome) © Monika Rittershaus

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Rhiannon Giddens’s Omar at SFO tugs at the emotions with resonant music and images

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United StatesUnited States Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels, Omar: Soloists, Guest Chorus (director: John Keene). Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / John Kennedy (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 15.11.2023. (HS)

Jamez McCorkle (Omar) proves he can write to Daniel Okulitch (r, Owen,) and Barry Banks (l, Taylor) © Cory Weaver/SFO

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Robert Wilson’s static Paris Turandot focuses the mind on Puccini’s score and some excellent singing

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FranceFrance Puccini, Turandot: Soloists, Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine, Chorus, Children’s Choir and Orchestra of Paris Opera / Marco Armiliato (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by François Roussillon) from the Opéra Bastille, Paris, 13.11.2023. (JPr)\

Iréne Theorin (Turandot) and Brian Jagde (Calaf) in Robert Wilson’s Turandot

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