Michieletto’s absinthe-fuelled Tales of Hoffmann for The Royal Opera gets a delightful musical performance

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Offenbach, The Tales of Hoffmann (Les contes d’Hoffmann): Soloists, Royal Opera Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Antonello Manacorda (conductor). Filmed (directed by Rhodri Huw) at the Royal Ballet and Opera in November 2024 and shown at the Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, Essex, 15.1.2025. (JPr)

Julie Boulianne (rear, Nicklausse) and Juan Diego Flórez (Hoffmann) © Camilla Greenwell

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Blomstedt concludes the celebration of Bruckner’s 200th in Berlin with a heavenly Ninth Symphony

GermanyGermany Mozart, Bruckner: Leif Ove Andsnes (soloist), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Herbert Blomstedt (conductor). Livestreamed from the Berlin Philharmonie on 21.12.2024 and available on the Digital Concert Hall. (GT)

Herbert Blomstedt conducts pianist Leif Ove Andsnes and the BPO © Monika Rittershaus

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Andris Nelsons commands a memorable performance of Bruckner’s Eighth in Berlin

GermanyGermany Bruckner: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (conductor). Livestreamed from the Berlin Philharmonie on 14.12.2024 and available on the Digital Concert Hall. (GT)

Andris Nelsons conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra © Lena Laine

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Simone Young directs masterfully a terrific performance of Bruckner’s Second Symphony in Berlin

GermanyGermany Rihm, Bruckner: Vida Miknevičūite (soprano), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Simone Young (conductor). Livestreamed from the Berlin Philharmonie on 7.12.2024 and available on the Digital Concert Hall. (GT)

Simone Young conducts the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra © Monika Rittershaus

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Long Live Puccini! La Scala overcomes adversity to perform 100 years to the day after he died

ItalyItaly La Scala per Puccini: Jonas Kaufmann, Luciano Ganci (tenors), Anna Netrebko, Mariangela Sicilia (soprano), James Vaughan (piano). Filmed (directed by Stefania Grimaldi) at La Scala, Milan, 29.11.2024 and available on ARTE Concert until 28.3.2025. (JPr)

[l-r] James Vaughan, Jonas Kaufmann, Mariangela Sicilia, Luciano Ganci, and Anna Netrebko

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McCrystal’s too merry Glyndebourne Merry Widow lacks the depth it deserves despite a fine ensemble

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow: Soloists, The Glyndebourne Chorus, London Philharmonic Orchestra / John Wilson (conductor). Filmed (directed by Rhodri Huw) at the Glyndebourne Opera House and broadcast on BBC Four on 25.12.2024 and available on iPlayer. (JPr)

The entrance of Hanna Glawari (Danielle de Niese) in The Merry Widow Act I © Tristram Kenton

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Sky Arts shows the constructive chaos behind English National Ballet’s work-in-progress new Nutcracker

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Backstage with English National Ballet (Sky Arts, series directed by Zoë Dobson) & English National Ballet’s Nutcracker (directed for TV by Peter Jones): English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Maria Seletskaja (conductor). Filmed at the London Coliseum and first broadcast on Sky Arts on 23.12.2024. (JPr)

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There will never be another! Relive Rudolf Nureyev’s virtuosic talent in his legendary Don Quixote film

AustraliaAustralia The Australian Ballet in Rudolf Nureyev’s Film of Don Quixote: The Australian Ballet, The State Orchestra of Victoria (formerly The Elizabethan Trust Melbourne Orchestra) / John Lanchbery (conductor). Filmed in 1973, restored and remastered in 1999, and currently available on medici.tv. (JPr)

Gailene Stock and Caroline Rappell (Kitri’s girlfriends) and Rudolf Nureyev in Don Quixote

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