United States Verdi, La forza del destino: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor). A Live in HD broadcast (directed by Gary Halvorson) from New York’s Metropolitan Opera to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 9.3.2024. (JPr)
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Roman Haubenstock-Ramati’s 1966 opera Amerika is a discovery worth the journey to Zurich
Switzerland Roman Haubenstock-Ramati, Amerika: Soloists, Dancers, Philharmonia Zurich / Gabriel Feltz (conductor). Zurich Opera, 9.3.2024. (MF)
WNO’s bold and innovative Death in Venice explores its ambiguous depths (and heights)
United Kingdom Britten, Death in Venice: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / Leo Hussain (conductor), Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 7.3.2024. (GPu)
Strength, precision and speed from NYCB, notably in Balanchine’s Duo Concertant
United Kingdom New York City Ballet: Sadler’s Wells, London, 7.3.2024. (JO’D)
Fine musical performance of a somewhat tired Deutsche Oper Berlin production of Parsifal
Germany Wagner, Parsifal: Soloists, Chorus, Men of the Extra Chorus, and Children’s Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opern-Ballet, Statisterie, and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin / Sir Donald Runnicles (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 9.3.2024. (MB)
Robert Carsen’s excellent production of Orfeo ed Euridice reaches Valencia
Spain Gluck, Orfeo ed Euridice: Generalitat Valenciana Chorus, Comunitat Valenciana Orchestra / Gianluca Capuano (conductor). Palau de Les Arts, Valencia, 5.3.2024. (JMI)
An impressive production of Weinberg’s The Passenger at Madrid’s Teatro Real
Spain M. Weinberg, The Passenger (Die Passagierin): Teatro Real Chorus and Orchestra / Mirga Gražinytè-Tyla (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 4.3.2024. (JMI)
Beatrice di Tenda re-enters the repertoire with an incisive production at Paris’s Opéra Bastille
France Bellini, Beatrice di Tenda: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Opéra national de Paris / Mark Wigglesworth (conductor). Opéra Bastille, Paris, 28.2.2024. (KS)