Rare, abbreviated, yet superbly staged performance of Handel’s Giulio Cesare from Opera North
17/11/2019
United Kingdom Handel, Giulio Cesare in Egitto: Orchestra members of Opera North / Christian Curnyn (conductor). The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays. 12.11.2019. (RJF)
Heather Lowe (Sesto), James Laing (Tolomeo) and Darren Jeffery (Achilla)
(c) Alastair Muir
ENO’s production and performance of Glass’s Orphée has a vitality that almost throbs
16/11/2019
United Kingdom Glass, Orphée (sung in an English translation by Netia Jones and Emma Jenkins): Soloists, Orchestra of English National Opera / Geoffrey Paterson (conductor). London Coliseum, 15.11.2019. (CC)
Jennifer France (The Princess) & Nicholas Lester (Orphée) (c) Catherine Ashmore
Fazioli, Mark Springer: Army of Lovers at The Playground Theatre
15/11/2019
United Kingdom Army of Lovers (libretto by David Flusfeder and music by Mark Springer): Mark Springer and Ben Schoeman (pianists), Ben Groenevelt (double bass). The Playground Theatre, Kensington, London, 13.11. 2019. (JB)
Mark Springer
Renato Balsadonna conducts Opera North’s La bohème empathetically, but time this production was retired
14/11/2019
United Kingdom Puccini, La bohème: Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North / Renato Balsadonna (conductor). The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays. 12.11.2019. (RJF)
Eleazar Rodriguez (Rodolfo) & Lauren Fagan (Mimì) (c) Richard Hubert Smith
Conor Mitchell’s powerful new music drama, packing a political punch, is staged in Belfast
12/11/2019
United Kingdom Conor Mitchell, Abomination: A DUP Opera: The Belfast Ensemble / Tom Brady (conductor). Lyric Theatre, Belfast, 8.11.2019. (RB)
Abomination: A DUP Opera (c) The Belfast Ensemble
David McVicar’s tried and trusted production of Die Zauberflöte returns to Covent Garden
10/11/2019
United Kingdom Mozart, Die Zauberflöte: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Leo Hussain (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 8.11.2019. (CC)
The Royal Opera’s Die Zauberflöte (c) Tristram Kenton
Laurence Equilbey leads a marvellous performance of Der Freischütz
06/11/2019
United Kingdom Weber, Der Freischütz (semi-staged): Soloists, accentus, Insula Orchestra / Laurence Equilbey (conductor), Barbican Hall, London, 4.11.2019. (CC)
Laurence Equilbey ©Julien Benhamou
Sizeable Llandudno audience rewarded with memorable performance of WNO’s Cunning Little Vixen
05/11/2019
United Kingdom Janáĉek, The Cunning Little Vixen (sung in Czech): Soloists, Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / Tomáš Hanus (conductor). Theatre Cymru, Llandudno, 31.10.2019
Aiofe Miskelly (Vixen) & Lucia Cervoni (Fox) (c) Richard Hubert Smith
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This joyous set of Beethoven's sonatas takes its place among the very best. [...]In its own way, the Seven Words of Christ is just as sublime as the Stabat Mater. [...]This sensitive, dynamic recording is a joy, and may even constitute a revelation. [...]The pair exhibits a refined style on these illuminating performances. [...]A deeply affecting experience that ought to win the opera many new admirers. [...]
This joyous set of Beethoven's sonatas takes its place among the very best. 
In its own way, the Seven Words of Christ is just as sublime as the Stabat Mater. 
This sensitive, dynamic recording is a joy, and may even constitute a revelation. 
The pair exhibits a refined style on these illuminating performances. 
A deeply affecting experience that ought to win the opera many new admirers. 
David McVicar's production of 'Die Zauberflöte' is filled with nocturnal high-jinks 
All three movements are so intricately packed with incident that one is tempted to simply let onesel 
Kenneth MacMillan's bouncy 'Concerto', Frederick Ashton's 'Enigma Variation 
