Argentina Puccini, Suor Angelica; Leoncavallo, Pagliacci: Buenos Aires Lírica. Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Buenos Aires Lírica, Conductor: Carlos Vieu. Teatro Avenida, Buenos Aires. 9.9.2011. (JSJ)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Fading Helsinki Ring revival polished up by Salminen, Hakala and some world-class fire
Finland Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of Finnish National Opera , Leif Segerstam (conductor) Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 5-11.9.2011 (BK)
Christopher Theofanidis: Heart of a Soldier (world premiere),
United States Christopher Theofanidis, Heart of a Soldier (world premiere): Soloists and orchestra, San Francisco Opera, Patrick Summers (conductor), War Memorial Opera House,San Francisco. 13.9.2011 (HS)
Maestro Pappano displays perfect mastery in three Puccini miniatures
United Kingdom Puccini, Il trittico: Richard Jones’s new productions of Il tabarro and Suor Angelica and a revival of his Gianni Schicchi; soloists and chorus of Royal Opera, Conductor: Antonio Pappano, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 12.9.2011. (JPr)
Mostly Mozart: Less is More in Iván Fischer’s Production of Don Giovanni
Mostly Mozart Festival: Mozart, Don Giovanni: Soloists, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Iván Fischer (conductor), Rose Theater at Time Warner Center, New York, 6.8.2011 (BH)
Prom 73: Berlioz’ version of Der Freischütz doesn’t quite hit the bullseye
United Kingdom Prom 73: Weber, Der Freischütz: Soloists, Monteverdi Choir, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique/Sir John Eliot Gardiner (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 9.9.11. (JPr)
Good performances in enigmatic and thought-provoking production of Dido and Aeneas
United Kingdom Purcell: Dido and Aeneas. Joint opera production between Operamus and Birmingham Conservatoire with Annette Thompson (Director) and Daniele Rosina (Conductor), Recital Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, 4. 9. 2011 (GR).
Leo Nucci Nails Rigoletto in The Groyne
Spain G. Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists, Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia, Coral Polifónica El Eco, Miguel Ángel Gómez Martínez (conductor). Palacio de la Ópera de La Coruña 07.09.2011 (JMI)