Carrie Hope Fletcher stars in Calamity Jane, an old-fashioned but still whip-cracking musical

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Calamity Jane (adapted for the stage by Charles K Freeman from a screenplay by James O’Hanlon): Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, 28.1.2025. (JPr)

Carrie Hope Fletcher (centre, Calamity Jane) and Richard Lock (far right, Rattlesnake) © Mark Senior

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Piotr Beczała redeems himself with his stylish Radamès in Michael Mayer’s deeply traditional Met Aida

United StatesUnited States Verdi, Aida: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor). Broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 25.1.2025. (JPr)

Michael Mayer’s production of Aida (Act I) © Ken Howard/Met Opera

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(P)review of the filmed version of Donmar Warehouse’s Macbeth coming to a cinema near you soon

United KingdomUnited Kingdom William Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Filmed live (directed by Tim Van Someren) at London’s Donmar Warehouse in 2023 and released in cinemas across the UK, US, Australia and selected international territories from 5th February 2025. (JPr)

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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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