United States Barber, Vanessa: Soloists, Heartbeat Opera Band / Jacob Ashworth (conductor). Heartbeat Opera, Baruch Performing Arts Center, New York, 14.5.2026. (RP)
Heartbeat Opera’s stark, penetrating Vanessa takes Manhattan by storm
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Original, immersive and emotionally challenging ENO production of Du Yun’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester
United Kingdom English National Opera’s, Angel’s Bone: Soloists, Kantos Chamber Choir, Members of the BBC Philharmonic / Baldur Brönnimann (conductor). Aviva Studios, Manchester, 12.5.2026. (JB)
IOS’s exhilarating Gianni Schicchi in two ‘acts’ in Zurich
Switzerland Puccini, Gianni Schicchi and ddditional music by Johann Strauss, Lehár, Kálmán and Verdi: Soloists, Zurich Opera Chorus, Musikkollegium Winterthur / Ustina Dubitsky (conductor). Theater Winterthur, 8.5.2026. (MF)
A well-considered new production of Das Rheingold in Marseille
France Wagner, Das Rheingold: Soloists, Orchestra de l’Opéra de Marseille / Michele Spotti (conductor). Opéra Municipal de Marseille, 10.5.2026. (MB)
Xabier Anduaga makes a triumphant debut as Werther in Barcelona
Spain Massenet, Werther: Soloists, Cor Vivaldi – Little Singers of Catalonia (conductor: Pilar Paredes), Gran Teatre del Liceu Symphony Orchestra / Henrik Nanasi (conductor). Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, 10.5.2026. (JMI)
James Gaffigan leads an excellent performance of Richard Strauss’s Salome in Valencia
Spain R. Strauss, Salome: Soloists, Orchestra Comunitat Valenciana / James Gaffigan (conductor). Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia, 9.5.2026. (JMI)
WNO end their visits to Birmingham with The Flying Dutchman full of surprises and some hope
United Kingdom Wagner, The Flying Dutchman: Soloists, Welsh National Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Tomáš Hanus (conductor). Hippodrome, Birmingham, 7.5.2026. (CP)
An inspiring re-creation of two historic dance collaborations in Beverly Hills
United States Cage, Anderson – ‘Dancing with Bob: Brown, Rauschenberg & Cunningham Onstage’: Trisha Brown Dance Company. The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Beverly Hills, 7.5.2025. (JRo)
