Germany Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin / Philippe Jordan (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 18, 19, 21, and 24.3.2024. (MB)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Bernheim and Sierra are outstanding as Gounod’s star-crossed lovers in the Met’s Roméo et Juliette
United States Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor). Broadcast Live in HD (directed by Gary Halvorson) from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 23.3.2024. (JPr)
Bremerhaven’s first production of The Apple Tree in German is a gem!
Germany Jeremy Bock and Sheldon Harnick, The Apple Tree: Soloists and chorus of Stadttheater Bremerhaven, Philharmonic Orchestra Bremerhaven / Davide Perniceni (conductor). Stadttheater Bremerhaven, 22.3.2024. (DMD)
Duke Bluebeard’s Castle semi-staged but calamity strikes ENO as soprano withdraws at the eleventh hour
United Kingdom Bartók, Duke Bluebeard’s Castle: Soloists, Orchestra of the English National Opera / Lidiya Yankovskaya (conductor). London Coliseum, 21.3.2024. (JR)
RCS’s outstanding Idomeneo in Glasgow reveals the great potential their singers, chorus and orchestra
United Kingdom Mozart, Idomeneo: Soloists, Choir and Orchestra of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland / John Butt (conductor). New Atheneum Theatre, Glasgow, 20.3.2024. (GT)
Musical champagne in Gothenburg Opera’s production of Rameau’s Platée
Sweden Jean-Philippe Rameau, Platée: Soloists of Gothenburg Opera, Gothenburg Opera Chorus, Gothenburg Opera Orchestra / Paul Agnew (conductor). Gothenburg Opera main stage, 20.3.2024. (NS)
A compelling double bill of Poulenc and Schoenberg at Madrid’s Teatro Real
Spain Poulenc, Schoenberg: Soloists, Orchestra of the Teatro Real / Jérémie Rhorer (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 19.3.2024. (JMI)
Sir David Pountney’s Guillaume Tell still hits the target in Vienna
Austria Rossini, Guillaume Tell (William Tell): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera / Bertrand de Billy (conductor). Transmitted live (directed by Dominic Zepczynski) from the Vienna State Opera, 16.3.2024. (JPr)