Opera & Ballet

Collected opera and ballet reviews

Kristine Opolais gives a sensational portrayal of Shostakovich’s Katerina at the Enescu Festival

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom George Enescu International Festival 2025 [4] – Shostakovich, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District: Soloists, Orchestra and Academic Choir of Romanian Radio (choral conductor: Ciprian Tutu) / Giancarlo Guerrero (conductor). Palace Hall Bucharest, 14.9.2025. (GT)

Conductor Giancarlo Guerrero and Kristine Opolais (Katerina) © Alex Damian

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Saffron Opera Group redeem themselves with a compelling end to Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Wagner, Der fliegende Holländer: Soloists, Saffron Opera Group Chorus (inc. Saffron Walden Choral Society, chorus masters: James Davey and Quintin Beer), Saffron Opera Group Orchestra / Michael Thorne (conductor). Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden, 14.9.2025. (JPr)

Simon Thorpe (The Dutchman) © Roger King

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Tarmo Peltokoski’s Die Zauberflöte casts its spell in Bucharest

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RomaniaRomania George Enescu International Festival 2025 [1] – Mozart, Die Zauberflöte: Soloists, Chorwerk Ruhr, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen / Tarmo Peltokoski (conductor). Romanian Radio Hall, Bucharest, 7.9.2025. (ES-S)

Tarmo Peltokoski conducting the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen © Petrica Tanase

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Intense, unnerving, and compelling: Shostakovich celebrated at the Proms with a stellar Lady Macbeth of Mtensk

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom BBC Proms 2025 [26] – Shostakovich, The Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District: Soloists, BBC Singers, Chorus of English National Opera (chorus master: Matthew Quinn), Brass Section of the Orchestra of English National Opera, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra /John Storgårds (conductor), Ruth Knight (stage director). Royal Albert Hall, London. 1.9.2025. (CSa)

Amanda Majeski (Katerina) and John Findon (Zinovy) © BBC/Andy Paradise

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