Opera & Ballet

Collected opera and ballet reviews

Eyvazov is a compelling Hermann and Netrebko an expressive Lisa in a Vienna revival of The Queen of Spades

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AustriaAustria Tchaikovsky, The Queen of Spades (Pique Dame): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Timur Zangiev (conductor). Livestreamed from the Vienna State Opera (directed by Dominik Kepczynski), 27.6.2025. (JPr)

Yusif Eyvazov (Hermann) and Anna Netrebko (Lisa) © WS/Michael Pöhn

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Boston Ballet’s opulent and beautifully danced Swan Lake in Los Angeles

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United StatesUnited States Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake: Dancers of Boston Ballet, Members of Los Angeles Opera Orchestra and other artists / Mischa Santora (conductor). Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, 26.6.2025. (JRo)

Boston Ballet’s Swan Lake –  Prince Siegfried (Sangmin Lee) and Odile (Viktorina Kapitonova) © Theik Smith

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Hamburg’s Così fan tutte revival is exuberant fun

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GermanyGermany Mozart, Così fan tutte: Soloists and Chorus of Hamburg State Opera, Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra / Alexander Joel (conductor). Hamburg State Opera, 22.6.2025. (DM-D)

Hamburg State Opera’s Così fan tutte (2018 cast) – [l-r] Dorabella, Despina, Guglielmo, Ferrando, Don Alfonso and Fiordiligi © Hans Jörg Michel

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Kent Nagano’s superb Tristan und Isolde crowns his last appearance as Hamburg’s General Music Director

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GermanyGermany Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists and Chorus of Hamburg State Opera, Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Kent Nagano (conductor). Hamburg, 15.6.2025. (DM-D)

Hamburg State Opera’s Tristan und Isolde Act III (2005) © Brinkhoff/Mögenburg

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