United Kingdom Poulenc and Ravel:Stephen Mangan (actor), Members of the Royal Academy of Music, Jean-Baptiste Barrière (video), BBC Symphony Orchestra, Stéphane Denève (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 26.4.2013 (MB)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Psychology Versus Primitive Feelings in Helsinki
Finland Bartók Duke Bluebeard’s Castle / Leoncavallo I Pagliacci. Soloists, Finnish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Mikko Franck (conductor). Finnish National Opera, Helsinki. 12.4.2013. Premiere (GF)
Barenboim Does Götterdämmerung Proud Despite Messy Production
Germany Wagner, Götterdämmerung: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (conductor). Schiller Theater, Berlin, 21.4.2013 (MB)
Hansel and Gretel Into, out of the Woods
First Class Performance of Wagner’s First Opera
Germany Wagner, Die Feen: Soloists, Chorus of Oper Leipzig, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra / Ulf Schirmer (conductor). Leipzig Opera House, 20.4.2013 (MB)
Impressive Team Work in La finta giardiniera
Germany Mozart, La finta giardiniera – Die Pforten der Liebe: Soloists of Berliner Staatsoper, Staatskapelle Berlin / Christopher Moulds (conductor). Schiller Theater, Berlin, 19.4.2013 (MB)
Berlin’s Siegfried Delights the Ear but Not the Eye
Germany Wagner, Siegfried: Soloists, Dancers, Staatskapelle Berlin / Daniel Barenboim (conductor), Berliner Staatsoper, Schiller Theater, Berlin, 18.4.2013 (MB)
Fervent Applause for Edward Watson in Mayerling
United Kingdom Liszt (arranged and orchestrated by Lanchbery), Mayerling: Dancers and Orchestra of the Royal Ballet / Martin Yates (conductor), Sergey Levitin (co-concert master), Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 19.4.2013. (JO’D)