United Kingdom Gilbert & Sullivan, HMS Pinafore: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Manchester University Gilbert & Sullivan Society (MUGSS), Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, 22.2.2012 (RJW)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Taking Off Without a Butterfly
Italy Puccini, Madama Butterfly: Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro dell’ Opera, Pinchas Steinberg (conductor ), Rome, 23.2.2012 (JB)
Placido Boccanegra in LA
United States G. Verdi, Simon Boccanegra: Soloists, LA Opera Orchestra & Chorus, James Conlon (conductor), Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, 15.2.2012 (RRR)
Fabio Biondi’s Most Un-Usual Norma
Spain Vincenzo Bellini, Norma: Europa Galante, Valencia’s Coral Catedralicia, Fabio Biondi (conductor), Auditorio El Baluarte, Pamplona, 19.2.2012 (JMI)
Modernist Mefistofele by Boito Outclasses Mozart’s Figaro in Budapest
Hungary Arrigo Boito: Mefistofele, Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Budapest Opera /János Kovács (conductor), Budapest Opera House, 2.2.2012 (SF)
Welsh National Opera’s Béatrice et Bénédict
United Kingdom Berlioz, Béatrice et Bénédict, (Revival Premiere) Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Michael Hofstetter, conductor, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 17.2.2012 (GPu)
Scottish Opera Offers Family-Friendly Hansel and Gretel
United Kingdom Humperdinck, Hansel and Gretel: Soloists, and Orchestra of Scottish Opera / Emmanuel Joël-Hornak (conductor), Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 18.2.2011 (SRT)
Exuberant Pappano Conducts a Sparkling Figaro
United Kingdom Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Royal Opera. Conductor: Antonio Pappano. Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 17.2.2012. (JPr)