Opera & Ballet

Collected opera and ballet reviews

Our Voices finds English National Ballet performing with what looks like a new, or renewed, energy.

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom English National Ballet’s Our Voices: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Gavin Sutherland (conductor). Sadler’s Wells, London, 21.9.2023. (JO’D)

Emma Hawes and Aitor Arrieta in George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations © Laurent Liotardo

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Barrie Kosky’s Das Rheingold for the Royal Opera is a miscast, misconceived, mishmash of ideas

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Wagner, Das Rheingold: Soloists, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Peter Jones) from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to Cineworld Basildon, 20.9.2023. (JPr)

Christopher Purves (Alberich) and the Rhinemaidens © Monika Rittershaus

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If I had five stars, I would give them to the Royal Opera’s revival of La forza del destino

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Verdi, La forza del destino (1869 Milan version): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Sir Mark Elder (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 19.9.2023. (CC)

Etienne Dupuis (Don Carlo) and Brian Jagde (Don Alvaro) © Camilla Greenwell

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Aleksandra Kurzak, Roberto Alagna and Luca Salsi are outstanding in Verona Opera Festival’s Tosca

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ItalyItaly Puccini’s Tosca at the 100th Arena di Verona Opera Festival 2023 [3]: Soloists, Children’s Choir (conductor: Elisabetta Zucca), Chorus (chorus director: Roberto Gabbiani) and Orchestra of Arena di Verona / Francesco Ivan Ciampa (conductor). Recorded (directed by Barbara Napolitano) at the Arena di Verona on 29.7.2023 and available on RaiPlay for a limited time. (JPr)

From l-r: Carlo Bosi (Spoletta), Roberto Alagna (Cavaradossi), Aleksandra Kurzak (Tosca) and Luca Salsi (Scarpia) © Ennevi Foto

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