Opera & Ballet

Collected opera and ballet reviews

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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Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote is reviewed through today’s lens: could the Royal Ballet dance any better?

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Minkus (arr. and orch. Martin Yates), Don Quixote: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Valery Ovsyanikov (conductor). Recorded live (directed by Ross MacGibbon) at the Royal Opera House, London, 7.11.2023 and seen at Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, Essex. 13.11.2023. (JPr)

Matthew Ball as Basilio in Don Quixote © Andrej Uspenski

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An outstanding performance of Marco Tutino’s La Ciociara at Wexford

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IrelandIreland Wexford Festival Opera 2023 [3] – Marco Tutino, La Ciociara: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Wexford Opera Festival / Francesco Cilluffo (conductor), O’Reilly Theatre, National Opera House, Wexford 2.11.2023. (RB)

Wexford Festival Opera’s production of La Ciociara © Clive Barda/ArenaPAL

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Netrebko and Guerrero impress in an eye-watering revival of Carsen’s Vienna Manon Lescaut

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AustriaAustria Puccini, Manon Lescaut: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Jader Bignamini (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Anna Gettel) from Vienna State Opera on 8.11.2023. (JPr)

Robert Carsen’s Manon Lescaut Act II © Wiener Staatsoper

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