Germany Strauss Wochen (4) – Die Liebe der Danae: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Berlin / Sebastian Weigle (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin. 9.4.2016. (MB)
Harms Does No Especial Harm to Die Liebe der Danae Which Glowed
Mark Berry
Litton Lavishes Loving Care on Orchestration of Die ägyptische Helena
Germany Strauss-Wochen (3) – Die ägyptische Helena: Soloists, Chorus (chorus master: William Spaulding) and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Andrew Litton (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 8.4.2016. (MB)
Fine Performance of Elektra Despite a Lacklustre Production
Germany Strauss-Wochen (2), Elektra: Soloists, Chorus (chorus master: William Spaulding) and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Donald Runnicles (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 7.4.2016. (MB)
A Salome of Great Musico-Dramatic Import at Deutsche Oper, Berlin
Germany Strauss-Wochen (1) – Salome: Soloists, Statisterie and Male Dancers from the Deutsche Oper, Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper, Alain Altonoglu (conductor). Deutsche Oper, Berlin, 6.4.2016. (MB)
Much to Admire from Christian Gerhaher’s Schubert but Were Expectations Fully Met?
United Kingdom Schubert: Christian Gerhaher (baritone), Gerold Huber (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 31.3.2016 (MB)
Barry Takes Musico-Dramatic Sledgehammer to Wilde’s Importance with Hilarious Results
United Kingdom Gerald Barry, The Importance of Being Earnest: Soloists, Britten Sinfonia, Tim Murray (conductor). Barbican Theatre, 29.3.2016. (MB)
Gluck’s Orfeo Offers new Challenges to Barenboim with a Stylish Production
Germany Gluck, Orfeo ed Euridice: Soloists, Dancers, Staatsopernchor Berlin (chorus master: Martin Wright), Staatskapelle Berlin, Daniel Barenboim (conductor). Schiller Theater, Berlin, 27.3.2016. (MB)
Two Great Pianists – and Musical Minds – in Partnership
Germany Berlin Festtage (3) – Schumann, Debussy, and Bartók: Daniel Barenboim, Martha Argerich (pianos), Torsten Schönfeld, Dominic Oelze (percussion). Philharmonie, Berlin, 26.3.2016. (MB)