Germany Puccini, Madama Butterfly: Soloists, Chorus and Extra Chorus of Bremen Theatre, Bremen Philharmonic / Sasha Yankevych (conductor). Bremen Theatre, 11.10.2025. (DM-D)
Three Cio-Cio-Sans in Bremen’s intriguing new Madama Butterfly
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
A rare ‘pared-down’ opportunity from ENO to see and hear Britten’s Albert Herring
United Kingdom Britten, Albert Herring: Soloists, Orchestra of English National Opera / Daniel Cohen (conductor). London Coliseum, 13.10.2025. (CC)
Fine singing and the splendid playing of the Paris Opera Orchestra redeems Shirin Neshat’s polemical Aida
France Verdi, Aida: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Opéra national de Paris / Michele Mariotti (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Mathilde Jobbé-Duval) from Opéra Bastille, Paris, 10.10.2025. (JPr)
A fine concert performance of Carmen in Dublin
Ireland Bizet, Carmen (concert performance): Soloists, Chorus Ireland (chorus director: David Young) and Cór na nÓg (chorus director: Mary Amond O’Brien), National Symphony Orchestra / Jessica Cottis (conductor). National Concert Hall, Dublin, 10.10.2025. (RB)
Asmik Grigorian is exceptional in Hamburg’s revival of Salome
Germany Richard Strauss, Salome: Soloists of Hamburg State Opera, Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Omer Meir Wellber (conductor). Hamburg State Opera, 7.10.2025. (DM-D)
The world is a stage for The Love for the Three Oranges at Bremerhaven
Germany Prokofiev, The Love for the Three Oranges: Soloists, Children’s Chorus and Chorus and Extra Chorus of Stadttheater Bremerhaven, Bremerhaven Philharmonic Orchestra / Marc Niemann (conductor). Stadttheater Bremerhaven, 4.10.2025. (DM-D)
Fourth revival of Calixto Bieito’s Carmen at the ENO lacks passion and has had its day
United Kingdom Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Children’s Chorus, Chorus (chorus director: Matthew Quinn) and Orchestra of English National Opera / Clelia Cafiero (conductor). London Coliseum, 8.10.2025. (JR)
Nadine Sierra and Xabier Anduaga are spellbinding in La Sonnambula at the Met
United States Bellini, La Sonnambula: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Riccardo Frizza (conductor). Metropolitan Opera, New York, 6.10.2025. (RP)
