United Kingdom Janáček, The Makropulos Affair: Soloists, London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Simon Rattle (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 13.1.2026. (JR)
Sir Simon Rattle and the LSO’s stunning concert performance of Janáček’s The Makropulos Affair
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Not heartwarming: World premiere of Matthias Pintscher’s Das kalte Herz at the Staatsoper Berlin
Germany Matthias Pintscher, Das kalte Herz: Soloists, Staatskapelle Berlin / Matthias Pintscher (conductor), Staatsoper Unter den Linden Berlin, 11.1.2026. (AB)
Creative design and collaborative artistry make Prototype’s Precipice a triumph of small-production opera
United States Prototype Festival 2026 [2] – Rima Fand, Precipice: Bass string quintet, piano & mandolin / Mila Henry (music director). La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York, 9.1.2026. (DS)
Madama Butterfly revival shines thanks to minimalist staging in Zurich
Switzerland Puccini, Madame Butterfly: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Zurich Opera / Evan Rogister (conductor). Zurich, 3.1.2026. (AL-L)
Noteworthy Bremerhaven concert performance of I Capuleti e i Montecchi
Germany Bellini, I Capuleti e i Montecchi: Soloists and Chorus of Bremerhaven Municipal Theatre, Philharmonic Orchestra Bremerhaven / Davide Perniceni (conductor). Bremerhaven Municipal Theatre, 3.1.2026. (DM-D)
Stunning singing is the hallmark of the Met’s complex, retro I Puritani
United States Bellini, I Puritani: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Marco Armiliato (conductor). Metropolitan Opera, New York, 3.1.2026. (RP)
Thoroughly enjoyable Vienna Die Fledermaus revival has Kaufmann’s first Eisenstein on the stage
Austria Johann Strauss II, Die Fledermaus: Soloists, Dancers of the Vienna State Ballet, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Markus Poschner (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Jakob Pitzer) from the Vienna State Opera, 31.12.2025. (JPr)
Vivaldi reigns supreme in Opera Philadelphia’s The Seasons
United States Vivaldi, The Seasons: Soloists, Commonwealth Youth Choir, Opera Philadelphia Chorus and Orchestra / Corrado Rovaris (conductor). Perelman Theater, Philadelphia, 21.12.2025. (RP)
