United Kingdom Wagner, Siegfried: Soloists of Fulham Opera, Benjamin Woodward (piano accompanist), St John’s Church, Fulham, London, 12.2.2013. (JPr)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Hallé’s Meistersinger a Triumph
United Kingdom Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1862/67): Hallé Choir, Hallé Youth Choir, RNCM Chamber Choir, Chetham’s Chamber Choir, Ad Solem – University of Manchester Chamber Choir, Hallé Orchestra, Members of the Hallé Youth Orchestra and Chetham’s Sinfonia / Sir Mark Elder (conductor), Jamie Phillips (assistant conductor), Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 10.2.13 (MC)
A La Scala Celebration of Sir John
Spain G. Verdi, Falstaff: Soloists, Teatro alla Scala Orchestra & Chorus, Daniel Harding (conductor), Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 6.2.2013 (JMI)
Excellent Eugene Onegin Let Down by Lacklustre Conducting
United Kingdom Tchaikovsky, Eugene Onegin: Soloists, Royal Opera Chorus (chorus master: Renato Balsadonna), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Robin Ticciati (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 11.2.2013 (MB)
Stylish Performance of Radamisto in London
United Kingdom Handel, Radamisto (revised, 1720 version) Soloists and English Concert/Harry Bicket (conductor), Barbican Hall, London, 10.2.13 (CC)
Luminous Orchestral Playing in WNO’s Striking Lulu
United Kingdom Berg, Lulu: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / Lothar Koenigs (conductor), (premiere), Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 8.2.2013 (GPu)
Thaïs in Helsinki: An 80 Year Wait
Finland Massenet Thaïs Soloists, Finnish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra, Mikko Franck (conductor). Finnish National Opera, Helsinki. 30.1.2013 (GF)
Fresh Life Breathed into Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
United Kingdom Vivaldi: V4 The Seasons Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment/Kati Debretzeni (violin); Henri Oguike (choreographer) and his dance company. Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London 8.2.2013 (CC)