Germany Berlioz, La Damnation de Faust: Soloists, Munich Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic Chorus, Tölz Boys’ Choir, Stéphane Denève (conductor), Gasteig Philharmonic Hall, Munich, 29.2.2012 (JFL)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Opera North Serves Up Baroque, Bel Canto and Verismo in Salford
United Kingdom Puccini, Bellini, Handel: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North. The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays. 28.2.2012 – 3.3. 2012. (RJF)
Puccini: Madama Butterfly(1904). Sung in Italian with surtitles in English.
Bellini: Norma (1831). Sung in Italian with surtitles in English.
Handel: Giulio Cesare (1724). Sung in Italian with surtitles in English.
Raising a Glass to Opera Making Inroads into Mumbai
India Pietro Mascagni, Cavalleria rusticana & Ruggero Leoncavallo, Pagliacci: Soloists, Symphonic Orchestra of India, Members of the Kazakh State Philharmonic Capella, The Paranjoti Academy Chorus, Living Voices, The Stop-Gaps Choral Ensemble, Antonello Allemandi (conductor), National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai, 18.2.2012 (RoW)
No Fairy Tale Lyricism in ROH’s Disturbing Rusalka
United Kingdom Dvořák, Rusalka: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Royal Opera / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor), directed by Jossi Wieler and Sergio Morabito, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 27.2.2012. (JPr)
Excellent Concert Version of La Clemenza in London
United Kingdom Mozart: La clemenza di Tito K 621. Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie, DeutscheKammerchor, Soloists / Louis Langree (conductor), Barbican Hall, London, 22.2.2012. (GD)
The Women Outshine the Men in WNO’s Marriage of Figaro
United Kingdom Mozart, Le Nozze di Figaro (Revival premiere): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, / Anthony Negus (conductor), Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 25.2.2012 (GPu)
Ernani’s Convoluted Plot Taken at a Gallop Amid Gothic Gloom
United Kingdom Verdi, Ernani: Met Live in HD staged by Peter McClintock and directed for television by Barbara Willis Sweete with Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Marco Armiliato (conductor), broadcast to the Barbican Cinema, London, 25.2.12. (JPr)
Bintley makes Brilliant Ballet from Boots, Betrothals and Booze.
United Kingdom Paul Reade, Hobson’s Choice: Birmingham Royal Ballet, David Bintley (Director) Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Philip Ellis (conductor) Birmingham Hippodrome, 22.02.2012 (GR)