Spain Charpentier, Médée: Chorus and Orchestra of Les Arts Florissants / William Christie (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 6.6.2024. (JMI)
An intriguing, if unevenly sung, Médée from William Christie and Les Arts Florissants in Madrid
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Finnish National Opera’s intense Götterdämmerung completes its Ring
Finland Wagner, Götterdämmerung: Soloists, Finnish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Hannu Lintu (conductor). Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 25.5.2024. (AA)
Mussorgsky’s Khovanshchina in Berlin was quite simply, outstanding in every way
Germany Mussorgsky, Khovanshchina: Soloists, Staatsoper Children’s Chorus (director: Vinzenz Weissenburger), Staatsopernchor Berlin (director: Dani Juris), Staatskapelle Berlin / Simone Young (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 2.6.2024. (MB)
Innocence, Kaija Saariaho’s masterpiece, packs a wallop in its U.S. premiere in San Francisco
United States Saariaho, Innocence: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Clément Mao-Takacs (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 1.6.2024. (HS)
Garsington Opera revives its undemanding but rewarding Le nozze di Figaro
United Kingdom Garsington Opera 2024 [2] – Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro: Soloists, Garsington Opera Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra / Tabita Berglund (conductor). Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 1.6.2024. (CR)
Nevill Holt’s remarkably innovative Magic Flute begins a much expanded Festival programme
United Kingdom Nevill Holt Festival 2024 – Mozart, The Magic Flute: Soloists, Britten Sinfonia / Finnegan Downie Dear (conductor). Nevill Holt, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, 1.6 2024. (CP)
Garsington Opera’s music and action provide vibrant integration for – a less episodic than usual – Platée
United Kingdom Garsington Opera 2024 [1] – Jean-Philippe Rameau, Platée: Soloists, Garsington Opera Chorus, The English Concert / Paul Agnew (conductor). Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 31.5.2024. (CR)
Pappano’s soloists, chorus and orchestra unite in a terrific performance of Andrea Chénier
United Kingdom Giordano, Andrea Chénier: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 30.5.2024. (CC)
