United States Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Eun Sun Kim (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 5.9.2025. (HS)
Musical values carry Rigoletto to the heights at the San Francisco Opera
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Intense, unnerving, and compelling: Shostakovich celebrated at the Proms with a stellar Lady Macbeth of Mtensk
United Kingdom BBC Proms 2025 [26] – Shostakovich, The Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District: Soloists, BBC Singers, Chorus of English National Opera (chorus master: Matthew Quinn), Brass Section of the Orchestra of English National Opera, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra /John Storgårds (conductor), Ruth Knight (stage director). Royal Albert Hall, London. 1.9.2025. (CSa)
An unforgettable The Turn of the Screw closes the Cumbria Opera Festival
United Kingdom Britten, The Turn of the Screw: Soloists, Jessica Meakin, Julian Cann (violins), Kim Becker (viola), Daniel Crompton (cello), Richard English (double bass), Richard Allen (harp), Hannah Gillingham (flute/alto flute/piccolo), Mana Shibata (oboe/cor anglais), William Hammond (clarinet/bass clarinet), Ursula Leveaux (bassoon), Chris Howlings (French horn), Alex Norton (piano/celesta), Stephen Burke (percussion) / Joe Davies (conductor). Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands, 30.8.2025. (CK)
A sublime Gothenburg revival of Rossini’s La Cenerentola
Sweden Rossini, La Cenerentola: Gothenburg Opera Soloists, Male chorus and Orchestra / Giancarlo Andretta (conductor). Gothenburg Opera main stage, 28.8.2025. (NS)
Estimable Salzburg Festival production and performance of Eötvös’s Three Sisters
Austria Salzburg Festival 2025 [7] – Eötvös, Three Sisters: Soloists, Actors, Klangforum Wien / Maxime Pascal, Alphonse Cemin (conductors). Felsenreitschule, Salzburg, 24.8.2025. (MB)
Tarmo Peltokoski works magic in witty semi-staged production of Die Zauberflöte in Bremen
Germany Musikfest Bremen 2025 [1] – Mozart, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute): Soloists, Chorwerk Ruhr, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen / Tarmo Peltokoski (conductor). Die Glocke, Bremen, 27.8.2025. (DM-D)
A sparkling The Marriage of Figaro from the Cumbria Opera Festival 2025
United Kingdom Cumbria Opera Festival 2025 [1] – Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro: Soloists, Chorus; Jessica Meakin, Julian Cann (violins), Hannah Borlase (viola), Daniel Crompton (cello), Hannah Gillingham (flute), Sarah Davies (oboe), William Hammond (clarinet), Ursula Leveaux (bassoon), Alistair Burton (harpsichord continuo) / Melvin Tay (conductor). Penrith Methodist Church, 23.8.2025. (CK)
Kavakos indulges in Bach, while Pite and McBurney take us on a dance journey into extinction
United Kingdom Edinburgh International Festival 2025 [11]: 23.8.2025. (SRT)
