United States Donizetti, Roberto Devereux: LA Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Eun Sun Kim (conductor. Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, 5.3.2020. (DD)
LA Opera’s Roberto Devereux features superb singing and their outstanding orchestra
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Juan Diego Flórez shines in La bohème revival at Zurich Opera
Switzerland Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus of the Zurich Opera, Philharmonia Zurich / Marco Armiliato (conductor). Zurich Opera, Zurich, 8.3.2020. (JR)
In Berlin, the Staatsoper presents a Carmen to make one think
Germany Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Children’s Choir of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden (chorus director: Vincenz Weissenburger), Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus director: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 7.3.2020. (MB)
Handel’s Susanna returns to Covent Garden after 271 years in an enjoyable staging
United Kingdom Handel, Susanna, HWV 66: Soloists, members of the Royal Opera Chorus, London Handel Orchestra / Patrick Milne (conductor). Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 5.3.2020. (CC)
Handel meets House of Cards? A compelling Agrippina from the Met
United States Handel, Agrippina: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Harry Bicket (conductor). Broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera, New York to Dundonald Omniplex Cinema, Belfast, 29.2.2020. (RB)
Strong soloists, chorus, and orchestra are the pluses of Scottish Opera’s Nixon in China
United Kingdom Adams, Nixon in China: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Scottish Opera / Joana Carneiro (conductor). Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 29.2.2020. (SRT)
(c) James Glossop
An operatic take on The Halloween Tree delights at InsightALT 2020
United States Theo Popov, The Halloween Tree (concert version): Soloists, American Lyric Theater Chamber Orchestra, MasterVoices / Geoffrey McDonald (conductor). American Lyric Theater, Ailey Citigroup Theater, New York, 23.2.2020. (RP)
Cathy Marston’s The Cellist brings Jacqueline du Pré – and her cello – back to life at Covent Garden
United Kingdom Dances at a Gathering / The Cellist: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Robert Clark (piano), Hetty Snell (cello), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Andrea Molino (conductor – The Cellist). Directed for the screen by Ross MacGibbon and broadcast live from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 25.2.2020. (JPr)
© Bill Cooper