United Kingdom Vivaldi, Bajazet: Soloists, Irish Baroque Orchestra / Peter Whelan (director). Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 7.2.2021. (CC)
Vivaldi at Covent Garden for the first time: Bajazet is gripping from first to last acts
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Elektra at Geneva Grand Theatre lacks tension
Switzerland Richard Strauss, Elektra: Soloists, Chorus of the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande / Jonathan Nott (conductor). Grand Théâtre de Genève, 4.2.2022. (ALL)
English National Opera’s expertly revived, strongly sung and fluidly conducted La bohème
United Kingdom Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera / Ben Glassberg (conductor). London Coliseum, 3.2.2022. (CC)
Tenor Anthony Ciaramitaro is the star of a new Ricky Ian Gordon opera, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis
United States Gordon, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis: Soloists, New York City Opera Orchestra / James Lowe (conductor). Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York City Opera & The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene, New York, 30.1.2022. (RP)
A thoughtful and compelling Theodora at the Royal Opera House
United Kingdom Handel, Theodora: Soloists, Royal Opera Chorus (chorus master: William Spaulding), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Harry Bicket (conductor). Royal Opera House, London, 31.1.2022. (MB)
Barrie Kosky’s life-affirming Cunning Little Vixen at the Staatsoper in Munich
Germany Janáček, The Cunning Little Vixen: Soloists, Chorus, Children’s chorus and Orchestra of the Bayerische Staatsoper / Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla (conductor). Nationaltheater, Munich, 30.1.2022. (ALL)
Pittsburgh Opera captures the beauty and magic in David Hertzberg’s The Rose Elf
United States Hertzberg, The Rose Elf: Soloists, Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra / James Lesniak (conductor). Pittsburgh Opera, Bitz Opera Factory, Pittsburgh, 25.1.2022. (RP)
Gergiev’s remarkable ensemble of singing-actors make Vienna’s The Queen of Spades revival still relevant
Austria Tchaikovsky, The Queen of Spades (Pique Dame): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Valery Gergiev (conductor). Livestreamed from the Vienna State Opera (directed by Jasmina Eleta), 27.1.2022. (JPr)
