United Kingdom Søren Nils Eichberg, Glare: Soloists, CHROMA, Geoffrey Paterson (conductor). Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, London, 18.11.2014 (MB)
Derivative Eclecticism and Unremarkable Vocal Writing in Eichberg’s Glare
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
A Compelling and Moving Fidelio Completes Karlstad’s Trilogy
Sweden Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio, Soloists, chorus, Wermland Opera Orchestra, Per-Otto Johansson (conductor), Wermland Opera main stage, Karlstad, 9.11.2014 (NS)
Karlstad’s Marriage of Figaro Thrilling But Also Disappointing
Sweden W. A. Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro,Soloists, chorus, Wermland Opera Orchestra, Per-Otto Johansson (conductor), Wermland Opera main stage, Karlstad, 8.11.2014 (NS)
An Exciting Barber of Seville in Karlstad, With Promise of Good Things to Come
Sweden Gioacchino Rossini: The Barber of Seville, Soloists, chorus, Wermland Opera Orchestra, Per-Otto Johansson (conductor), Wermland Opera main stage, Karlstad, 6.11.2014 (NS)
Company Chameleon’s Beauty of the Beast Surprises and Shocks
United Kingdom Various composers, Beauty of the Beast: Company Chameleon, The Place, London, 18.11.2014 (J.O’D)
Excellent Performances from Valentine and Cresswell in The Bartered Bride
United Kingdom Smetana, The Bartered Bride (comic opera in three acts): Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North/James Holmes (conductor), Lyric Theatre, The Lowry, Salford, 19.11.2014 (MC)
Sung in English – English translation by Leonard Hancock and David Pountney with dialogue by Daniel Slater
Flat and Forgettable La Cenerentola from Scottish Opera
Rossini, La Cenerentola: Soloists, Orchestra of Scottish Opera, The Chorus of La Cenerentola, William Lacey (conductor), Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 19.11.2014 (SRT)
New Traviata a Mixture of Innovative Ideas with Crude Banality
United Kingdom Verdi, La Traviata (sung in English with surtitles): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North / Gianluca Marciano (conductor), The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays. 19.11.2014. (RJF)