Christof Loy’s new Francesca da Rimini at Deutsche Oper Berlin: is it worth the effort?

GermanyGermany Riccardo Zandonai, Francesca da Rimini: Soloists, Extras, Chorus and Orchestra of Deutsche Oper Berlin / Carlo Rizzi (conductor). Livestream directed by Gotz Filenius from Deutsche Oper Berlin, 14.3.2021. (JPr)

Deutsche Oper Berlin’s Francesca da Rimini Act I

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Barbora Horáková Joly’s new Prague Rigoletto combines cutting-edge production with Vincenzo Milletarì’s traditional musical virtues

Czech RepublicCzech Republic Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists, The State Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Vincenzo Milletarì (conductor), Národní divadlo, Prague. Recorded on 30.1 and 2.2.2021 at the State Opera and available throughout March 2021. (RP)

Olga Jelínková (Gilda) © Serghei Gherciu, Jan Pohribný

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Pretty Yende and Juan Diego Flórez bring to life Simon Stone’s intriguingly staged, very well directed Vienna La traviata

AustriaAustria Verdi, La traviata: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera / Giacomo Sagripanti (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Jakob Pitzer) from the Vienna State Opera, 7.3.2021. (JPr)

Juan Diego Flórez (Alfredo) and Pretty Yende (Violetta Valéry)

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Roberto Alagna and Aleksandra Kurzak explore a toxic relationship in Vienna’s 2018 Otello

AustriaAustria Verdi, Otello: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Graeme Jenkins (conductor). Performance filmed (directed by Jakob Pitzer) on 18.3.2018 and reviewed when streamed on 2.3.2021. (JPr)

Vienna State Opera’s 2018 Otello Act II

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Kenneth MacMillan’s telling of the dark Manon story is equally intense for ENB thanks to Alina Cojocaru

United KingdomUnited Kingdom English National Ballet’s Manon: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Gavin Sutherland (conductor). Performance from 17.10.2018 at Manchester Opera House and streamed as Ballet on Demand from 1.3.2021 (JO’D)

ENB’s Manon (c) Laurent Liotardo

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HERE presents the premiere of No One Is Forgotten, an opera for radio conceived during the pandemic

United StatesUnited States Paola Prestini & Sxip Shirey, No One Is Forgotten: Soloists, Jeffrey Zeigler (cello) / Raquel Acevedo Klein (conductor). HERE Arts Center, National Sawdust, Brooklyn. Based on the Winter Miller play of the same name, and premiered on 24.2.2021. Available for streaming through 24.4.2021. (RP)

Photo from the original production of No One Is Forgotten,
with Sarah Nina Hayon (Lali) and Renata Friedman (Beng) © Paula Court

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Rachvelishvili and Beczala lead an impressive Vienna ensemble as Bieito brings enhanced dramatic intent to Carmen

AustriaAustria Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Children of the Opera School, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Andrés Orozco-Estrada (conductor). Performed at the Vienna State Opera and livestreamed (directed by Karina Fibich) on 21.2.2021. (JPr)

Vienna State Opera’s Carmen Act II

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As Radvanovsky hits new heights in Paris, Aida is not the museum piece Lotte de Beer thinks it is

FranceFrance Verdi, Aida: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Opéra national de Paris / Michele Mariotti (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Francois-René Martin) from Opéra Bastille, Paris, 18.2.2021. (JPr)

Jonas Kaufmann (Radamès) & Dmitry Belosselskiy (Ramfis)  (c) Vincent Pontet

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