Spain Verdi, La traviata: Soloists and Extras, Chorus and Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu / Giacomo Sagripanti (conductor). Liceu, Barcelona, 20 & 21.1.2025. (JMI)
Nadine Sierra triumphs as Violetta Valéry in Barcelona’s La traviata
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Handel’s Rodelinda revival at Oper Frankfurt: a modern lens on a Baroque drama
Germany Handel, Rodelinda: Soloists, Orchestra of the Frankfurt Opera / Simone Di Felice (conductor). Frankfurt Opera, 19.1.2025. (ES-S)
Passions dominate Hamburg’s stirring Der fliegende Holländer
Germany Wagner, Der fliegende Holländer: Soloists, Chorus of the Hamburg State Opera, Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra / Kent Nagano (conductor). Hamburg State Opera, 19.1.2024. (DM-D)
Cologne Opera’s new production confirms Nabucco as a masterpiece
Germany Verdi, Nabucco: Soloists, Chorus and Extras of Cologne Opera. Gürzenich-Orchestra / Sestro Quatrini (conductor). StaatenHaus Saal 1, Cologne, 12.1.2025. (DM-D)
Erina Takahashi is bidding farewell as an ENB dancer in their delicate and poignant Giselle
United Kingdom Mary Skeaping’s Giselle: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Gavin Sutherland(conductor), London Coliseum, 15.1.2025. (JO’D)
Essen’s inconsistent Die Zauberflöte is set in a laboratory
Germany Mozart, Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute): Soloists and Chorus of Theater & Philharmonie Essen. Essener Philharmoniker / Christopher Moulds (conductor). Aalto Theater Essen, 11.1.2025. (DM-D)
Michieletto’s absinthe-fuelled Tales of Hoffmann for The Royal Opera gets a delightful musical performance
United Kingdom Offenbach, The Tales of Hoffmann (Les contes d’Hoffmann): Soloists, Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Antonello Manacorda (conductor). Filmed (directed by Rhodri Huw) at the Royal Ballet and Opera in November 2024 and shown at the Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, Essex, 15.1.2025. (JPr)
Many windows make for a persuasive interpretation of Eugene Onegin in Krefeld
Germany Tchaikovsky, Eugene Onegin: Soloists, Chorus and Extras of Theater Krefeld Mönchengladbach. Niederrheinische Sinfoniker / Sebastian Engel (conductor). Theater Krefeld, 10.1.2025. (DM-D)
