United Kingdom Poulenc, Purcell: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North/ Wyn Davies (conductor). The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays. 12-16.3.2013. (RJF)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Gimmicks Fail to Liven Up Mozart’s Clemenza
United Kingdom Mozart, La Clemenza di Tito (1791) sung in Italian with English surtitles: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North / Douglas Boyd (conductor), The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays. 12-16.3.2013. (RJF)
Satisfying Otello Despite the Staging
United Kingdom Giuseppe Verdi. Otello (1887) Sung in Italian with titles in English: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North / Richard Farnes (conductor), The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays. 12-16.3.2013.(RJF)
Perceptive and Inspiring First-Nations Flute
Canada Mozart, The Magic Flute: Soloists, Vancouver Opera, Leslie Dala (conductor). Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver, British Columbia. 10.3.2013 (BJ)
Ecstasy On and Off the Stage: Tristan and Isolde in Göthenburg
Sweden Richard Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, Göthenburg Opera Orchestra and Chorus, extra male chorus, Stefan Lano (conductor), GöteborgsOperan, 09.03.2013 (NS)
Romantic Glow to Royal Academy’s Onegin
United Kingdom Tchaikovsky, Eugene Onegin: Soloists, Royal Academy Opera Chorus, Royal Academy Sinfonia, Jane Glover (conductor). Sir Jack Lyons Theatre, Royal Academy of Music, London, 11.3.2013 (MB)
Washington DC’s Norma: Good Opera, Bad Theater
United States V. Bellini, Norma: Soloists, Washington National Opera, Daniele Rustioni (conductor), WNO Orchestra, 12.3.2013 (RRR)
In Search of the Two Foscaris
Italy Verdi, I Due Foscari. Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro dell’ Opera, Rome. Conductor, Riccardo Muti. Chorus master, Roberto Gabbiani. Stage director, Werner Herzog. Sets and Costumes, Maurizio Balò 8.3.2013 (JB)