Switzerland Handel, Orlando: Orchestra La Scintilla Zurich, William Christie (conductor), Soloists, Zurich Opera 13.5.16. (JR)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Strong Performance by Psappha of Mark Simpson’s First Opera Pleasure
United Kingdom Mark Simpson, Pleasure: Soloists, Psappha, Nicholas Kok (conductor). Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London, 12.5.2016. (MB)
Flowing, Dramatic Production of Mathis der Maler at Semperoper
Germany Hindemith, Mathis der Maler: Sächsischer Staatsopernchor Dresden, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden/Simone Young (conductor), Semperoper, Dresden, 10.5.2016. (MC)
Curtis’s Figaro a Mixed Bag Dramatically but an Almost Unmixed Triumph Musically
United States Mozart Le nozze di Figaro: Curtis Opera Theatre, soloists, Karina Canellakis (conductor), Jordan Fein (director), Perelman Theater, Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, 8.5.2016 (BJ)
Adamo’s Little Women Beautifully Staged by The Mannes Opera
United States Adamo: Little Women, Soloists, The Mannes Opera, The Mannes Orchestra, Joseph Colaneri (conductor), Gerald W. Lynch Theater, New York, 6.05.2016 (RP)
Iván Fischer’s Conception of Die Zauberflöte: A Quixotic Mishmash of Ideas.
United Kingdom Mozart, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute): Actors and soloists, Á la cARTe Choir, Budapest Festival Orchestra/Iván Fischer (director and conductor). Royal Festival Hall, London, 10.5.2016. (JPr)
Psychological Puzzle of a Production: Pelléas in Zurich
Switzerland Debussy, Pelléas et Mélisande: Soloists, Chorus of the Zurich Opera, Philharmonia Zurich, conductor: Alain Altinoglu, Zurich Opera, Zurich, 8.5.16. (JR)
Restoring Much of the Sparkle to Donizetti’s Elixir
United States Donizetti, L’elisir d’amore: Soloists, Opera Philadelphia, Corrado Rovaris (conductor), Academy of Music, Philadelphia, 4.5.2016. (BJ)