United States Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of San Francisco Opera / Ramón Tebar (conductor). War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco, 3.6.2025. (HS)
La bohème hits all the right notes at San Francisco Opera
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
COG’s La straniera emerges as a fascinating piece with Helena Dix magnificent in the title role
United Kingdom Bellini, La straniera (concert performance): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Chelsea Opera Group / Stephen Barlow (conductor). Cadogan Hall, London, 1.6.2025. (CC)
Cal McCrystal’s new L’elisir d’amore for INO is one of the funniest, most outrageous productions ever
Ireland Donizetti, L’elisir d’amore: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Irish National Opera / Erina Yashima (Conductor). Gaiety Theatre, Dublin, 31.5.2025. (RB)
Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s radiant concert performance of Tristan and Isolde in Philadelphia
United States Wagner, Tristan and Isolde (concert performance): Soloists, Tenors and Basses of Philadelphia Symphonic Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor). Marian Anderson Hall, Philadelphia, 1.6.2025. (ES-S)
Garsington’s The Queen of Spades will surely be one of the best things to be seen this summer
United Kingdom Garsington Opera 2025 [1] – Tchaikovsky, The Queen of Spades: Soloists, Garsington Opera Youth Company, Garsington Opera Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra / Douglas Boyd (conductor). Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 31.5.2025. (CR)
An impressive 21st-century version of Harvey Milk at San Francisco’s Opera Parallèle
United States Stewart Wallace, Harvey Milk Reimagined: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Opera Parallèle / Nicole Paiement (conductor). Blue Shield of California Theatre, San Francisco, 31.5.2025. (HS)
An extraordinary night of music and drama: Quinn Kelsey in LA Opera’s Rigoletto
United States Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of LA Opera / James Conlon (conductor). Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, 31.5.2025. (JRo)
Il trovatore in Vienna: Stoyanova, Beczała, Semenchuk and Salsi are great; if perhaps not Caruso’s ‘best’
Austria Verdi, Il trovatore: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Marco Armiliato (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Anna Gettel) from the Vienna State Opera, 30.5.2025. (JPr)
