Sweden Beethoven, Fidelio: Soloists of Läckö Opera, Läckö Chamber Orchestra / Simon Kim Phipps (conductor), Läckö Castle courtyard, 10.7.2026. (NS)
A powerful and moving Fidelio inside the walls of Läckö Castle
Opera & Ballet
Collected opera and ballet reviews
Oscar Wilde’s bubbling comedy becomes a surreal hard-hitting farce in Barry’s adaptation at Garsington
United Kingdom Garsington Opera 2026 [4] – Gerald Barry, The Importance of Being Earnest: Soloists, Philharmonia Orchestra / Douglas Boyd (conductor). Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 10.7.2026. (CR)
A depressingly ill-conceived production of Die Entführung aus dem Serail in Berlin
Germany Mozart, Die Entführung aus dem Serail: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus director: Gerhard Polifka), Staatskapelle Berlin / Thomas Guggeis (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 5.7.2026. (MB)
Singing at its best in visually exuberant Bremen Magic Flute
Germany Mozart, The Magic Flute: Soloists, Chorus of Bremen Theatre, Bremen Philharmonic / Lukas Ziesché (conductor). Bremen Theatre, 2.7.2026. (DM-D)
Berlin’s Pelléas et Mélisande revival offers a highly moving and thought-provoking night in the theatre
Germany Debussy, Pelléas et Mélisande: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus director: Dani Juris), Staatskapelle Berlin / François-Xavier Roth (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 3.7.2026. (MB)
Szymanowski’s King Roger gets an ambitious anniversary revival at Des Moines Metro Opera
United States Szymanowski, King Roger: Soloists, Orchestra of Des Moines Metro Opera / David Neely (conductor). Blank Performing Arts Center Pote Theatre, Indianola, 4.7.2026. (ZC)
Compelling revival of Billy Budd at Glyndebourne
United Kingdom Britten, Billy Budd: Soloists, Children’s Chorus (chorus master: Nicholas Mulroy), The Glyndebourne Chorus (chorus director: Aidan Oliver), London Philharmonic Orchestra / Nicholas Carter (conductor). Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Lewes, East Sussex, 5.7.2026. (JR)
Haydn’s fishy comedy is served up with playful relish by New Chamber Opera at Oxford
United Kingdom New Chamber Opera – Haydn, Le pescatrici: Soloists, The Band of Instruments / Steven Devine (conductor). New College, Oxford, 1.7.2026. (CR)
