Canada Gilbert and Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance: Vancouver Opera, soloists, Jonathan Darlington (conductor). Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia. 9.12.2012 (BJ)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker is Perfectly Charming
United Kingdom Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker: Dancers of English National Ballet, Choir of Tring Park School for the Performing Arts, Orchestra of English National Ballet / Benjamin Pope. (conductor), London Coliseum, London, 12.12.2012. (JPr)
Love and Deceit in Ponnelle’s Venerable Don Pasquale
United States Donizetti, Don Pasquale: Soloists, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sir Andrew Davis, (conductor), Civic Opera House, Chicago. 8.12.2012 (JLZ)
Wexford Festival (2) Less Would Have Been More for Chabrier’s Le Roi Malgré Lui
Witch Steals the Show in Viennese Hänsel und Gretel
Austria Humperdinck, Hänsel und Gretel: Soloists, Orchestra of the Vienna Volksoper, Stage Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera / Guido Mancusi (conductor), Volksoper, Vienna, 8.12.2012 (MB)
Met’s Un Ballo has Echoes of Alden’s 1989 Production for ENO
United Kingdom Verdi, Un ballo in maschera: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York, conducted by Fabio Luisi. (Production by David Alden; directed for live cinema by Matthew Diamond; broadcast to the Barbican Cinema, London, 8.12.2012. (JPr)

Flying Welshman Triumphs in Zurich
Switzerland Wagner The Flying Dutchman: Soloists,Chorus of the Zurich Opera, Philharmonia Zurich, conductor: Alain Altinoglu, Zurich Opera, Zurich. 9.12.2012. (JR)
Adès’ “Tempest” in HD Buffeted by Close-Ups – and Intermission
United States Adès, The Tempest: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, Thomas Adès (conductor), Robert Lepage (production), Gary Halvorson (director). Met Live in HD encore broadcast to the Galaxy Theatre, Gig Harbor, Washington, 28.11.2012. (BJ)