Opera & Ballet

Collected opera and ballet reviews

Jennifer France’s unforgettable Vixen crowns OHP’s Janáček production which has it all – comedy, pathos, delight and tears

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Janáček, The Cunning Little Vixen (Přiíhody lišky Bystroušky) sung in English in the chamber version by Jonathan Dove): Soloists, Chorus and Children’s Chorus of Opera Holland Park, City of London Sinfonia / Jessica Cottis (conductor). Holland Park, London, 13.7.2021. (CC)

Members of the Children’s Chorus in The Cunning Little Vixen © Ali Wright

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‘It’s opera, Jim, but not as we know it’: Simon Stone’s Tristan und Isolde gets on the metro to Aix-en-Provence

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FranceFrance Aix-en-Provence Festival 2021 [1] – Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, Actors, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Corentin Leconte) from Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, and available on Arte Concert until 30.8.2023. (JPr)

Act I: Stuart Skelton (Tristan) & Nina Stemme (Isolde) (c) Jean-Louis Fernandez

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The Royal Ballet’s intriguing Beauty Mixed Programme both looks to the past and to the future

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom The Royal Ballet’s Beauty Mixed Programme: Dancers of the Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Koen Kessels (conductor). Filmed (directed by Ross MacGibbon) at the Royal Opera House and streamed on 9.7.2021. (JPr)

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Fine and characterful singing as Die Walküre is heard once more in Wagner-starved London

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Wagner, Die Walküre: Soloists, London Opera Company ensemble (Rosemary Taylor [clarinets], Jo Harris [trumpet], William Brown [trombone, bass trumpet], James Bower [percussion]), Peter Selwyn (piano, music director). St John’s, Waterloo, London, 3.7.2021. (MB)

Cara McHardy (Brünnhilde)

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Glyndebourne’s Così fan tutte revival is a veritable triumph of organisation, performance and production

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Glyndebourne Festival Opera 2021 – Mozart, Così fan tutte (Bärenreiter edition, ed. Ferguson / Rehm): Soloists, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment / Riccardo Minasi (conductor). Glyndebourne Opera House, Lewes, East Sussex, 4.7.2021. (CC)

Alessandro Corbelli (Don Alfonso) and Hera Hyesang Park (Despina)
(c) Tristram Kenton

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Semperoper Ballett’s first streaming event is a six-part celebration of who they are and how they’re doing things

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GermanyGermany A Collection of Short Stories – multi-part ballet evening: Dancers of Semperoper Ballett. Filmed (directed by Tilo Krause for Armida Film) at Semperoper Dresden and streamed from 2 until 15.7.2021 (click here). (JPr)

The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude (c) Ian Whalen

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There is huge applause at Munich’s Tristan und Isolde for Jonas Kaufmann, Anja Harteros and Kirill Petrenko

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GermanyGermany Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Bavarian State Orchestra / Kirill Petrenko (conductor). Nationaltheater, Munich, 4.7.2021 (ALL)

Jonas Kaufmann (Tristan) and Anja Harteros (Isolde) © W. Hösl

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