Opera & Ballet

Collected opera and ballet reviews

The Brandenburgers in Bohemia bring the Smetana anniversary year in Ostrava to a triumphant finale

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Czech RepublicCzech Republic Smetana, The Brandenburgers in Bohemia: Soloists, Chorus, Ballet and Orchestra of the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre / Jakub Klecker (conductor). Antonín Dvořák Theatre, Ostrava, 5.12.2024. (GT)

Veronica Rovna (Ludiše) and Martin Barta (Tausendmark) © Martin Popelář

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Ashton’s Cinderella for The Royal Ballet focusses on steps but ignores the story

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Prokofiev, Cinderella: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Jonathan Lo (conductor). Broadcast live from the Royal Ballet & Opera, Covent Garden, London, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 10.12.2024. (JPr)

WIlliam Bracewell as the Prince and Fumi Kaneko as Cinderella © Andrej Uspenski

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Muscato’s compelling new La Scala La forza del destino is dominated by Netrebko’s Leonora and Tézier’s Carlo

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ItalyItaly Verdi, La forza del destino: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan / Riccardo Chailly (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Arnalda Canali) on medici.tv from Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 7.12.2024. (JPr)

Huanhong Li (Alcalde) and Ludovic Tézier (Carlo) © Teatro alla Scala / Brescia e Amisano

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