United Kingdom Tchaikovsky, The Sleeping Beauty: Dominic Grier (Conductor), Edinburgh Festival Theatre, 11.1.2012 (SRT)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Kitchen Sink Realism for Merikanto’s Juha
Finland Aarre Merikanto: Juha Finnish National Opera, Kurt Kopecky (conductor), Helsinki. 21.12.2011 (GF)
ENB’s Strictly Gershwin is Strictly an Old-fashioned Entertainment
United Kingdom Strictly Gershwin: Maida Vale Singers, Dancers and Orchestra of English National Ballet, Gareth Valentine (conductor), London Coliseum, London, 4.1.12. (JPr)
La Traviata at Covent Garden: Third Cast Best Yet
United Kingdom Verdi La traviata (III): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Maurizio Benini (Conductor), Covent Garden, London, 02.01.2012 (CC)
Barcelona Rarity: Damrau and Flórez can’t Salvage Linda di Chamounix
Spain Gaetano Donizetti, Linda di Chamounix: Soloists, Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Gran Teatre del Liceu, Marco Armiliato (conductor), Barcelona’s Liceu, 27 & 28.12. 2011 (JMI)
Metropolitan Opera Presents World Premiere Baroque Pastiche: “The Enchanted Island”
United States The Enchanted Island , Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, William Christie (Conductor), New York, (31.12.2011 – 30.1.2012) (SSM)
London’s The O2 Arena Over-extends BRB’s Nutcracker in the Best Possible Way
United Kingdom Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker: Dancers of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Koen Kessels (conductor), The O2 Arena, London 27.12.2011. (JPr)
Popular Unpopularity: Massenet’s Don Quichotte in Madrid
Spain Jules Massenet, Don Quichotte: Soloists, Madrid Symphony Orchestra, Intermezzo Choir, Marc Piollet (conductor), Teatro Real de Madrid, 19.12.2011 (JMI)