Spain Benjamin, Into the Little Hill: Members of the Teatro Real Orchestra / Tim Murray (conductor), Teatros del Canal, Madrid, 11.2.2020. (JMI)
The Madrid premiere of George Benjamin’s first opera, Into the Little Hill
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Valiant attempt but WNO’s new Les vȇpres siciliennes can’t quite persuade one of its merits
United Kingdom Verdi, Les vȇpres siciliennes: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of Welsh National Opera / Carlo Rizzi (conductor). Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 8.2.2020. (GPu)
(c) Johan Persson
Strength of ensemble in the casting is a defining factor of this ENO Carmen revival
United Kingdom Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Pupils from Ark Academy, Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera / Valentina Peleggi (conductor). London Coliseum, 7.3.2020. (CC)
Gerald Barry’s kaleidoscopic Alice’s Adventures pushes musical boundaries at Covent Garden
United Kingdom Gerald Barry, Alice’s Adventures Under Ground: Soloists, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Thomas Adès (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 4.2.2020. (JPr)
(c) Clive Barda
Stemme and Lundgren star in a superb new Munich production of Bluebeard’s Castle
Germany Bartók, Judith: Concerto for Orchestra / Bluebeard’s Castle: Bayerisches Staatsorchester / Oksana Lyniv (conductor), National Theater, Munich, 4.2.2020. (JMI)
A baffling evening of Meyerbeer at the Deutsche Oper Berlin
Germany Meyerbeer, Les Huguenots: Soloists, Chorus (chorus master: Jeremy Bines), Opera-Ballet, and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin / Alexander Vedernikov (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 2.2.2020. (MB)
(c) Bettina Stöss
An undoubtedly disturbing yet ultimately triumphant Met Porgy and Bess
United States The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / David Robertson (conductor). Transmitted live from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 1.2.2020. (JPr)
Anna Netrebko triumphs in Munich in her debut as Turandot
Germany Puccini, Turandot: Bayerische Staatsoper Chorus and Orchestra / Giacomo Sagripanti (conductor). National Theater, Munich, 3.2.2020. (JMI)
