Nico Muhly, Two Boys (world premiere): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the English National Opera, Rumon Gamba (conductor). The Coliseum, London, 24.6.2011 (MB)
Mark Berry
Haitink works his magic on Ravel and Mendelssohn
Ravel and Mendelssohn: Sarah-Jane Brandon (soprano), Daniela Lehner (mezzo-soprano), Sir Thomas Allen (narrator), Eltham College Boys’ Choir, London Symphony Orchestra, Bernard Haitink (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 23.6.2011 (MB)
Britten well served by revival of Decker’s Peter Grimes
United Kingdom Britten, Peter Grimes: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Sir Andrew Davis (conductor). Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 21.6.2011. (MB)
Haphazard Götterdämmerung fails to light up Paris
Wagner, Götterdämmerung: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra national de Paris, Philippe Jordan (conductor). Opéra Bastille, Paris, 18.6.2011 (MB)
Outstanding Performances of Contemporary Works at the Cité de la Musique
Fedele, Staud, and Mantovani: Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Robin Meier (IRCAM sound realisation), Franck Berthoux (IRCAM sound engineer), Ensemble Intercontemporain, Susanna Mälkki (conductor). Salle des concerts, Cité de la musique, Paris, 17.6.2011 (MB)
Conductor and Orchestra save the day in Palais Garnier’s Così fan tutte
Mozart, Così fan tutte: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of the Opéra national de Paris/ Philippe Jordan (conductor). Palais Garnier, Paris, 16.6.2011 (MB)
Russian Song from Daniil Shtoda and Larissa Gergieva at the Wigmore Hall
Rimsky-Korsakov, Cui, Rachmaninov, and Tchaikovsky: Daniil Shtoda (tenor), Larissa Gergieva (piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 10.6.2011 (MB)
Brahms sung by a counter-tenor? Andreas Scholl in a fascinating recital
Purcell, Dowland, Handel, Johnson, Campion, Haydn, Brahms, and Anon: Andreas Scholl (counter-tenor), Tamar Halperin (harpsichord, piano). Wigmore Hall, London, 7.6.2011 (MB)