Austria Salzburg Festival [1] – Mozart: Alexander Melnikov (piano), Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, Ivor Bolton (conductor). Grosser Saal, Mozarteum, Salzburg, 21.8.2022. (MB)
Ivor Bolton seems to miss the smile in Mozart’s music
Mark Berry
Magnificent Elgar crowns an English Prom from Oramo and the BBC Symphony Orchestra
United Kingdom BBC Proms 2022 [17], Prom 39 – Turnage, Vaughan Williams, and Elgar: Constantin Hartwig (tuba), BBC Symphony Orchestra / Sakari Oramo (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 15.8.2022. (MB)
Opera Holland Park’s new double-bill of Delius and Puccini operatic rarities proves a great success
United Kingdom Opera Holland Park 2022 [2] – Delius, Margot la Rouge / Puccini, Le Villi: Soloists, Opera Holland Park Chorus (chorus director: Dominic Ellis-Peckham), City of London Sinfonia / Francesco Cilluffo (conductor). Holland Park, London, 23.7.2022. (MB)
Enjoyable and, at times, delectable Rimsky-Korsakov from Matiakh and the BBC NOW at the Proms
United Kingdom BBC Proms 2022 [4], Prom 9 – Ravel, Beamish, and Rimsky-Korsakov: Catrin Finch (harp), BBC National Orchestra of Wales / Ariane Matiakh (conductor). Royal Albert Hall, London, 21.7.2022 (MB)
The Blue Woman thoughtfully addresses the subject of sexual violence
United Kingdom Laura Bowler, The Blue Woman: Soloists, Actors, Instrumentalists, Matthew Fairclough (sound design), Jessica Cottis (music director), Jamie Man (conductor). Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, London, 6.7.2022. (MB)
The striking London premiere of Tom Coult’s first opera, Violet
United Kingdom Tom Coult – Violet: Soloists, Sound Intermedia (sound design), London Sinfonietta / Andrew Gourlay (conductor). Hackney Empire, London, 23.6.2022. (MB)
The Royal Opera revives a ‘more authentic’ Madama Butterfly with mixed results
United Kingdom Puccini, Madama Butterfly: Soloists, Royal Opera Chorus (chorus director: William Spaulding), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Dan Ettinger (conductor). Royal Opera House, London, 14.6.2022. (MB)
Barrie Kosky’s intriguing double bill of Purcell and Bartók in Frankfurt
Germany Purcell, Bartók: Soloists, Frankfurt Opera Chorus (chorus director: Tilman Michael), Frankfurt Opern- und Museumsorchester / Benjamin Reiners (conductor). Oper Frankfurt, Frankfurt, 5.6.2022. (MB)
