United Kingdom Richard Strauss, Daphne: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Scottish Opera / Stuart Stratford (conductor). Theatre Royal, Glasgow, 5.9.2023. (GT)
A remarkable success for the Scottish premiere of Richard Strauss’s Daphne in Glasgow
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Two reviews from the Cumbria Opera Festival 2023, truly a hidden gem
United Kingdom Poulenc, La voix humaine and R. Schumann, Frauenliebe und -leben: Sofia Kirwan-Baez (soprano) and Alex Norton (pianist). Penrith Playhouse, Cumbria, 26.8.2023.
Berkshire Festival Opera’s La bohème celebrates youth, talent and ingenuity
United States Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Berkshire Opera Festival Chorus and Orchestra / Brian Garman (conductor). Berkshire Opera Festival, The Colonial Theatre, Pittsfield, MA, 1.9.2023. (RP)
Fine performances in Salzburg fail to redeem Martinů’s flawed The Greek Passion
Austria Salzburg Festival 2023 [9] – Martinů, The Greek Passion: Soloists, Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus, Salzburg Festival and Theatre Children’s Choir, Angelika Prokopp Summer Academy of the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Maxime Pascal (conductor). Felsenreitschule, Salzburg, 22.8.2023. (MB)
Salzburg’s contemporary new production of Le nozze di Figaro only partly meets expectations
Austria Salzburg Festival [6] – Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro: Soloists, Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Raphaël Pichon (conductor). Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 20.8.2023. (MB)
Sonya Yoncheva and Vittorio Grigòlo star in Verona’s unashamedly traditional Tosca
Italy Puccini’s Tosca at the 100th Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2023 [2]: Soloists, Children’s Choir (conductor: Elisabetta Zucca), Chorus (chorus director: Roberto Gabbiani) and Orchestra of Arena di Verona / Francesco Ivan Ciampa (conductor). Recorded (directed by Tiziano Mancini) at the Arena di Verona on 5.8.2023 and available on ARTE Concert until 12.11.2023. (JPr)
Anna Netrebko leads a starry cast in Teatro Colón’s semi-staged Il trovatore
Argentina Verdi, Il trovatore: Soloists, Permanent Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Colón / Giacomo Sagripanti (conductor). Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires. 15.8.2023. (JSJ)
Phaedra / Minotaur in Edinburgh tried to say some profound things but ended saying not very much at all
United Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2023 [11] – Phaedra / Minotaur: Christine Rice (mezzo-soprano), Richard Hetherington (musical director and piano). Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, 19.8.2023. (SRT)
