Finland Puccini, La Rondine: Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 20.12.2011 (GF)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Triply Disappointing, Manifold Delighting: Ariadne auf Valencia
Spain R. Strauss, Ariadne auf Naxos: Soloists, Valencia Community Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis (conductor), Palau de les Arts, Valencia, 16.12.2011 (JMI)
Fanciulla Roaring Success In Stockholm
Sweden Puccini, La Fanciulla del West Royal Swedish Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Pier Giorgio Morandi (conductor), Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm, 17.12.2011 (Premiere) (GF)
Pappano’s Meistersinger Compares Unfavourably With Past Productions At Covent Garden
United Kingdom Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Soloists, Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Antonio Pappano (conductor), Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 19.12.2011 (MB)
More “New” Clothes for the Emperor – Turandot in Munich
Germany Puccini: Turandot, Bavarian State Opera, Munich, 17.12.2011 (BM)
Eva-Maria Westbroek of Mtsensk: Haenchen & Kušej Delight in Madrid
Spain Dmitri Shostakovich, Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District: Soloists, Madrid Symphony Orchestra, Coro Intermezzo, Hartmut Haenchen (conductor), Teatro Real de Madrid, 9.12.2011 (JMI)
Holy Mackerel: RNCM Triumphs with Albert Herring
United Kingdom Britten. Albert Herring (1947): Orchestra, Chorus and Soloists of the Royal Northern College of Music, Clark Rundell (conductor), Director Stefan Janski. Stage, Set and Costume designer, Lara Booth, RNCM Theatre, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, 12.12.2011 (RJF)
The Triumphant Return of the Royal Physician to Copenhagen
Denmark Bo Holten, Livlægens besøg (The Visit of the Royal Physician): Bo Holten (conductor), The Royal Danish Opera, Copenhagen, 2.12.2011 (NS)