France Festival d’Aix-en-Provence [5] – Rameau, Samson: Soloists, Pygmalion / Raphaël Pichon (conductor). Théâtre de l’Archevêché, Aix-en-Provence, 12.7.2024. (MB)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
In Los Angeles, Ballet Hispánico’s Doña Perón traces the life of Evita
United States Salem, Ochoa, Doña Perón: Dancers of Ballet Hispánico / Ahmed Alon (conductor). Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, 14.7.2024. (JRo)
Yoncheva and Eyvazov in Tosca at Covent Garden put the ‘grand’ back into grand opera
United Kingdom Puccini, Tosca: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Andrea Battistoni (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 14.7.2023. (JPr)
Despite reservations, memory of Gluck at Aix will doubtless endure
France Festival d’Aix-en-Provence [4] – Gluck, Iphigénie en Aulide and Iphigénie en Tauride: Soloists, Le Choeur d’Astrée (chorus director: Richard Wilberforce), Le Concert d’Astrée, Emmanuelle Haïm (conductor). Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, 11.7.2024 (MB)
Buxton’s new and first-rate Ernani production by Jamie Manton provided captivating drama
United Kingdom Buxton International Festival [3] – Verdi, Ernani: Soloists, BIF Chorus, Orchestra of Opera North / Adrian Kelly (conductor). Buxton International Festival, Buxton Opera House, Derbyshire, 10.7.2024. (MC)
Having caught up with Katie Mitchell’s Aix production, Pelléas will never quite be the same again
France Festival d’Aix-en-Provence [2] – Debussy, Pelléas et Mélisande: Soloists, Chorus (chorus master: Benedict Kearns) and Orchestra of the Lyon Opera / Susanna Mälkki (conductor). Grand Théâtre de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, 9.7.2024. (MB)
Longborough delivers a magical Ring to conclude five years of diligent planning
United Kingdom Longborough Festival Opera 2024 [1] – Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen: Soloists, Longborough Community Chorus, Longborough Festival Orchestra / Anthony Negus (conductor), Longborough, Cotswolds, 4, 5. 7 & 9.7.2024. (CP)
La tragédie de Carmen was a captivating evening of entertaining music theatre at Buxton
United Kingdom Bizet, La tragédie de Carmen (after Carmen by Bizet and Mérimée. Reimagined by Peter Brook using libretto by Jean-Claude Carrière and music score by Marius Constant): Soloists, Northern Chamber Orchestra / Iwan Davies (conductor). Buxton International Festival, Derbyshire, 9.7.2024. (MC)