Opera Holland Park’s Hansel und Gretel is a lovely yet not too lovely evening

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Opera Holland Park 2023 [2] – Humperdinck, Hansel and Gretel: Soloists, Opera Holland Park Chorus (chorus master: Dominic Ellis-Peckham) and Children’s Chorus (chorus master: Scott Price), City of London Sinfonia / Kărin Hendrickson (conductor). Holland Park, London, 14.6.2023. (MB)

Charlotte Badhma (Hansel) and Laura Lolita Perešivana (Gretel) © Ali Wright

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The Royal Opera’s new Il trovatore is a Monty Pythonesque horror show in more ways than one

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Verdi, Il trovatore: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Peter Jones) from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 13.6.2023. (JPr)

Roberto Tagliavini (Ferrando) © Camilla Greenwell

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Così fan tutte at The Grange Festival: fine, probing and beautifully sung

United KingdomUnited Kingdom The Grange Festival 2023 – Mozart, Così fan tutte: Soloists, The Grange Festival Chorus, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / Kirill Karabits (conductor). The Grange, Alresford, Hampshire, 10.6.2023. (CK)

Samantha Clarke (Fiordiligi), Nicholas Lester (Guglielmo), Kitty Whately (Dorabella), Alessandro Fisher (Ferrando) © Craig Fuller

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The strong cast brings the more consistent personality and character to Garsington’s pared down Mitridate

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Garsington Opera 2023 [2] – Mozart, Mitridate, re di Ponto: Soloists, The English Concert / Clemens Schuldt (conductor). Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 3.6.2023. (CR)

Iestyn Davies (Farnace) and Soraya Mafi (Ismene) © Julian Guidera

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Excellent singers, conductor and orchestra makes Götterdämmerung Longborough’s best Wagner yet

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Longborough Festival Opera – Götterdämmerung: Soloists, Longborough Community Chorus, Festival Chorus and Opera Orchestra / Anthony Negus (conductor). Longborough Festival Opera, Moreton-in-Marsh, 31.5.2023. (JPr)

Final scene: Lee Bisset (Brünnhilde) © Matthew Williams-Ellis

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Despite an ailing Rigoletto there is much to relish at Opera Holland Park

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Opera Holland Park 2023 [1] – Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists, Opera Holland Park Chorus, City of London Sinfonia / Lee Reynolds (conductor). Opera Holland Park, London, 1.6.2023. (CC)

Hannah Pedley (Maddalena) and Alessandro Scotto di Luzio (Duke of Mantua) © Craig Fuller

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Garsington’s charming and fresh interpretation of Rossini’s well-loved Il barbiere di Siviglia

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Garsington Opera 2023 [1] – Rossini, Il barbiere di Siviglia: Soloists, Garsington Opera Chorus, The English Concert / Douglas Boyd (conductor). Garsington Opera at Wormsley, 31.5.2023. (CR)

Johannes Kammler (Figaro), Katie Bray (Rosina) and Andrew Stenson (Count Almaviva) © Clive Barda

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