United Kingdom Tesori, Blue: Soloists, Orchestra of English National Opera / Matthew Kofi Waldren (conductor). London Coliseum, 30.4.2023. (CC)
ENO’s Blue is a miss as an opera, but has top-flight singers and a conductor at the top of his game
UK Opera
All opera reviews from UK sources
Saariaho’s Innocence at Covent Garden is music of our time at its most powerful
United Kingdom Saariaho, Innocence (2018): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Susanna Mälkki (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 26.4.2023. (CC)
A most satisfying and enriching Arminio: the real star remains Handel, of course
United Kingdom Handel, Arminio, HWV 36 (1737): Soloists, Early Opera Company / André Callegaro (conductor). Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 20.4.2023. (CC)
Akhnaten is absolutely unmissable at ‘national treasure’ ENO
United Kingdom Glass, Akhnaten: Soloists, skills ensemble, Chorus and Orchestra of English National Opera / Karen Kamensek (conductor). London Coliseum, 29.3.2023. (CC)
The Dead City: ENO’s justly ambitious, laudable Korngold project
United Kingdom Korngold, The Dead City (Die tote Stadt): Soloists, Members of the Finchley Children’s Music Group (chorus director: Grace Rossiter), Chorus and Orchestra of the English National Opera / Kirill Karabits (conductor). London Coliseum, 25.3.2023. (MB)
Dnipro Opera visits Basildon and Madama Butterfly is emotional and thought-provoking in many ways
United Kingdom Ukrainian National Opera – Puccini, Madama Butterfly: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Dnipro Opera, Ukraine / Ihor Puchkov (conductor). Towngate Theatre, Basildon, Essex, 25.3.2023. (JPr)
Final(?) ROH performances of Serban’s Turandot is splendidly sung, but not by those you might expect
United Kingdom Puccini, Turandot (completed by Franco Alfano): 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, London, 22.3.2023. (JPr)
A life-affirming Figaro from Royal Academy Opera
United Kingdom Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro: Soloists, Chorus, Royal Academy Sinfonia / Alice Farnham (conductor). Susie Sainsbury Theatre, Royal Academy of Music, London, 21.3.2023. (MB)
