United Kingdom Paisiello/Farwell, The Fabulist: Soloists, Instrumental group. Charing Cross Theatre, London, 19.8.2024. (AK)
Excellent performances from the cast of six in a reworking of a rare Paisello opera
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Exceptional music making in a rather static production of Bianca e Falliero in Pesaro
Italy Rossini Opera Festival 2024 [1] – Rossini, Bianca e Falliero: Soloists, Coro del teatro ventidio basso, Orchestra sinfonica nazionale della RAI, Roberto Abbado (conductor). Auditorium Scavolini, Pesaro, 7.8.2024. (AB)
San Sebastián’s disappointing Carmen falls short on emotion
Spain San Sebastián Music Fortnight – Bizet, Carmen: Easo Chorus, Euskadi Orchestra / José Miguel Pérez Sierra (conductor). Auditorio Kursaal, San Sebastián, Spain, 10.8.2024. (JMI)
The storytelling impresses in Amy Lane’s (mostly) straightforward new Longborough Die Walküre
United Kingdom Longborough Festival Opera [3] – Wagner, Die Walküre: Soloists, Long borough Festival Orchestra / Anthony Negus (conductor). Recorded at Loughborough (directed by Matthew Dilley) on 26.6.2024 and available on OperaVision and YouTube until 9.2.2025. (JPr)
Andreas Homoki’s Carmen returns full circle to Paris’s Opéra-Comique at the EIF
United Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2024 [4]: Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Accentus, Maitrise Populaire de l’Opéra-Comique, Scottish Chamber Orchestra / Louis Langrée (conductor), Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 8.8.2024 (SRT)
Extravagance and excellence vie in Meyerbeer’s Le prophète at Bard SummerScape
United States Meyerbeer, Le prophète: Soloists, ‘Marche du Sacre’ Banda, Bard Festival Chorus, Dancers, Enfants, American Symphony Orchestra / Leon Botstein (conductor). Bard SummerScape, Fisher Center at Bard, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, 4.8.2024. (RP)
Much fine singing to admire in the Tannhäuser revival at Bayreuth
Germany Bayreuth Festival 2024 [4] – Wagner, Tannhäuser: Soloists, Bayreuth Festival Chorus and Orchestra / Nathalie Stutzmann (conductor). Festspielhaus, Bayreuth, 4.8.2023. (MB)
Longborough Festival Opera completes a wonderful season with an intriguing La bohème
United Kingdom Longborough Festival Opera [2] – Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Longborough Festival Orchestra / Alice Farnham (conductor). Longborough, Cotswolds, 30.7.2024. (CP)
