Germany Schubert, Brahms, and Beethoven: Lisa Batiashvili (violin), Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Daniel Harding (conductor). Philharmonie, Berlin, 26.4.2024 (MB)
A rewarding foretaste of the Berlin Philharmonic’s 2024 May Day European Concert
Mark Berry
Thought-provoking, involving staging of St Matthew Passion in Berlin
United Kingdom Bach, St Matthew Passion: Soloists, Children’s and Youth Choirs of the Deutsche Oper (director: Christian Lindhorst), Youth Choir of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Children’s Choir of the Aalto-Theatre, Essen (director: Patrik Jaskolka), Chorus of the Deutsche Oper (director: Jeremy Bines), Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper / Alessandro De Marchi (conductor). Deutsche Oper Berlin, 29.3.2024. (MB)
Leipzig marks the 300th anniversary of the St John Passion
Germany J.S. Bach: Elisabeth Breuer (soprano), Jakub Jósef Orliński (countertenor), Daniel Johannsen (tenor), Benjamin Appl (bass: Christus), Tomáš Král (bass: arias), Thomanerchor Leipzig, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra / Andreas Reize (conductor). St Thomas’s Church, Leipzig, 28.3.2024. (MB)
Thielemann and Die Frau ohne Schatten make a strong impression in Dresden
Germany R. Strauss, Die Frau ohne Schatten: Soloists, Children’s Chorus (director: Claudia Sebastian-Bertsch) and Chorus of the Semperoper Dresden, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden / Christian Thielemann (conductor). Semperoper, Dresden, 27.3.2024. (MB)
Tcherniakov’s mostly thought-provoking production of the Ring, magnificently performed in Berlin
Germany Wagner, Der Ring des Nibelungen: Soloists, Staatsopernchor Berlin, Staatskapelle Berlin / Philippe Jordan (conductor). Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Berlin, 18, 19, 21, and 24.3.2024. (MB)
Fine Deutsche Oper Berlin cast and imaginative production brings The Queen of Spades vividly to life
Germany Tchaikovsky, Pique Dame (The Queen of Spades): Soloists, Children’s Chorus (director: Christian Lindhorst), Chorus (director: Jeremy Bines), Statisterie, and Opernballet of the Deutsche Oper Berlin / Sebastian Weigle (conductor). Deutsche Oper Berlin, 20.3.2024. (MB)
Pause for thought as well as enjoyment in Berlin from RSB’s Mendelssohn and Stravinsky
Germany Mendelssohn and Stravinsky: Denis Uzun (mezzo-soprano), Berlin Radio Chorus (chorus director: Philipp Ahmann), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra / Martyn Brabbins (conductor). Konzerthaus Berlin, 16.3.2024. (MB)
A delightful and enlightening concert in Berlin of music by Mendelssohn, Hensel and Bach
Germany Mendelssohn, Hensel, and Bach: Anna Prohaska (soprano), Benjamin Bruns (tenor), Ludwig Mittelhammer (bass), RIAS Chamber Choir, Kammerakademie Potsdam / Justin Doyle (conductor). Kammermusiksaal Berlin, 14.3.2024. (MB)
