Spain Verdi, Falstaff: Chorus and Orchestra of Gran Teatro del Liceu / Josep Pons (conductor). Teatre Liceu, Barcelona, 18 & 19.7.2026. (JMI)
Luca Salsi and Ambrogio Maestri are both excellent in Barcelona’s season-ending Falstaff
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Fine singing despite a disappointing orchestra for New Palace Opera’s Katya Kabanova
United Kingdom Janáček, Katya Kabanova: Soloists, New Palace Opera Orchestra / Michael Thorne (conductor). St. John’s Waterloo, London, 19.7.2026. (JR)
Zemira e Azor is Bampton Classical Opera’s current success story and cannot fail to gladden the hearts.
United Kingdom Bampton Classical Opera Summer 2026 – Grétry, Zemira e Azor: Soloists, The Orchestra of Bampton Classical Opera / Andrew Griffiths (conductor). Cokethorpe School, Witney, Oxfordshire, 17.7.2026. (CP)
Piotr Beczała is a Manrico to remember in Madrid’s Il trovatore
Spain Verdi, Il trovatore: Soloists, Teatro Real Chorus and Orchestra / François López Ferrer and Nicola Luisotti (conductors). Teatro Real, Madrid, 15, 16 & 17.7.2026. (JMI)
Regents Opera’s minimalist Rigoletto falls well short of their usual quality
United Kingdom Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists, Orchestra of Regents Opera / Ben Woodward (piano/conductor). Bloomsbury Theatre, London, 17.7.2026. (JR)
The State Ballet of Georgia’s Swan Lake aims to appeal to an audienceof all ages
United Kingdom State Ballet of Georgia’s Swan Lake: Dancers of the State Ballet of Georgia, Royal Ballet Sinfonia / Levan Jagaev (conductor). London Coliseum, 17.7.2026. (JO’D)
Rossini’s ordered chaos comes alive in Teatro Nuovo’s Il Turco in Italia
United States Rossini, Il Turco in Italia: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro Nuovo. Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York, 16.7.2026. (ES-S)
Clay Hilley’s singing and acting was the highlight of Pappano’s excellent Tristan und Isolde with his LSO
United Kingdom Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, London Symphony Chorus (director: Mariana Rosas), London Symphony Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 12.7.2026. (JPr)
