Skip to content

Seen and Heard International

SINCE 1999 A LIVE REVIEW SITE FOR OPERA, BALLET, CONCERTS, THEATRE , BROADCASTS AND FILMS

Seen and Heard International

  • Home
  • Concerts
    • UK Concerts
    • International Concerts
  • Opera & Ballet
    • International Opera
    • UK Opera
    • Ballet and Dance Reviews
  • Theatre & Broadcasts
    • Broadcasts and Film
    • Musicals
    • Theatre
  • Articles & Interviews
    • Featured Articles and News
    • Interviews
    • News and Press Releases
    • Season Previews
  • Festivals
    • Festival 2020
    • Festival 2021
      • Aspen Music Festival 2021
      • BBC Promenade Concerts 2021
      • Three Choirs Festival 2021
      • Edinburgh International Festival 2021
    • Festival 2022
      • BBC Promenade Concerts 2022
      • Edinburgh International Festival 2022
      • Aspen Music Festival 2022
    • Festival 2023
      • BBC Promenade Concerts 2023
      • Three Choirs Festival 2023
      • Edinburgh International Festival 2023
    • Festival 2024
      • BBC Promenade Concerts 2024
      • Edinburgh International Festival 2024
      • Salzburg Festival 2024
    • Festival 2025
      • BBC Promenade Concerts 2025
      • Edinburgh International Festival 2025
    • BBC Promenade Concerts 2026
  • Contact
  • HOW TO DONATE
  • Home
  • Concerts
    • UK Concerts
    • International Concerts
  • Opera & Ballet
    • International Opera
    • UK Opera
    • Ballet and Dance Reviews
  • Theatre & Broadcasts
    • Broadcasts and Film
    • Musicals
    • Theatre
  • Articles & Interviews
    • Featured Articles and News
    • Interviews
    • News and Press Releases
    • Season Previews
  • Festivals
    • Festival 2020
    • Festival 2021
      • Aspen Music Festival 2021
      • BBC Promenade Concerts 2021
      • Three Choirs Festival 2021
      • Edinburgh International Festival 2021
    • Festival 2022
      • BBC Promenade Concerts 2022
      • Edinburgh International Festival 2022
      • Aspen Music Festival 2022
    • Festival 2023
      • BBC Promenade Concerts 2023
      • Three Choirs Festival 2023
      • Edinburgh International Festival 2023
    • Festival 2024
      • BBC Promenade Concerts 2024
      • Edinburgh International Festival 2024
      • Salzburg Festival 2024
    • Festival 2025
      • BBC Promenade Concerts 2025
      • Edinburgh International Festival 2025
    • BBC Promenade Concerts 2026
  • Contact
  • HOW TO DONATE

Helsinki

Unconventional, inspiring Don Giovanni in Helsinki

17/03/2020 by Goran Forsling

FinlandFinland Mozart, Don Giovanni: Finnish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Patrick Fournillier (conductor). Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 6.3.2020. (GF)

Markus Suihkonen (Leporello) & Tuomas Pursio (Don Giovanni) © Stefan Bremer

Read more

Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags Göran Forsling, Helsinki Leave a comment

Excellent singing and acting in Helsinki’s Ariadne auf Naxos

10/03/202005/02/2020 by Goran Forsling

FinlandFinland Richard Strauss, Ariadne auf Naxos: Soloists, Finnish National Opera Orchestra / Hannu Lintu (conductor). Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 29.1.2020. (GF)

Finnish National Opera’s Ariadne auf Naxos © Stefan Bremer

Read more

Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags Göran Forsling, Helsinki Leave a comment

Das Rheingold is a good omen for the rest of Salonen’s Ring cycle

29/09/201915/09/2019 by Goran Forsling

FinlandFinland Wagner, Das Rheingold: Soloists, Finnish National Opera Orchestra / Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor), Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 3.9.2019. (GF)

Jukka Rasilainen as Alberich © Ralph Larmann

Read more

Categories Concert Reviews, International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags Göran Forsling, Helsinki 1 Comment

Cruel but Excellent Performance of Wozzeck in Helsinki

28/04/201906/04/2019 by Goran Forsling

FinlandFinland Alban Berg, Wozzeck: Soloists, Finnish National Opera Chorus and Children’s Chorus, Finnish National Opera Orchestra / Hannu Lintu (conductor), Finnish National Opera, Helsinki 27.3.2019. (GF)

FNO’s Wozzeck (c) Stefan Bremer

Read more

Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags Göran Forsling, Helsinki Leave a comment

The Tales of Hoffmann is Welcomed Back to Helsinski

18/11/201827/10/2018 by Goran Forsling

FinlandFinland Offenbach, Les contes d’Hoffmann: Soloists, Finnish National Opera Chorus & Orchestra / Patrick Fournillier (conductor) Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 19.10.2018. (GF)

Les contes d’Hoffmann ©Heikki Tuuli/FNO

Read more

Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags Göran Forsling, Helsinki Leave a comment

The Tosca of my dreams

11/09/202312/09/2018 by Goran Forsling

FinlandFinland Puccini, Tosca: Soloists, Chorus, Children’s chorus and Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera / Patrick Fournillier (conductor). Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 7.9.2018. (GF)

Aušrinė Stundytė (Tosca) & Andrea Caré Cavaradossi) © Heikki Tuuli/FNO

Read more

Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet, This Week's Review Tags Göran Forsling, Helsinki 1 Comment

Trovatore‘s Well-Known Melodies Reach Listeners’ Hearts

08/04/201829/03/2018 by Goran Forsling

FinlandFinland Verdi, Il trovatore: Finnish National Opera Chorus and Orchestra / Patrick Fournillier (conductor). Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 23.3.2018. (GF)

Claudio Otelli (Luna) (l) & Elena Stikhina (Leonora) © Stefan Bremer

Read more

Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags Göran Forsling, Helsinki Leave a comment

Autumn Sonata: New Opera Evokes Bergman Film

09/10/201702/10/2017 by Goran Forsling

FinlandFinland Sebastian Fagerlund, Höstsonaten (Autumn Sonata): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera / John Storgårds (conductor), Finnish National Opera, Helsinki, 23.9.2017. (GF)

AS
Anne Sofie von Otter in Autumn Sonata (Charlotte) (c) Finnish National Opera

Read more

Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags Göran Forsling, Helsinki Leave a comment
  • Page 2 of 6
  • <
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • >
Older posts
Newer posts
← Previous Page1 Page2 Page3 … Page6 Next →

SEARCH THE SITE

CHOOSE A WEEK TO VIEW

CHOOSE A MONTH TO VIEW

TOP 10 SEEN AND HEARD POSTS

  • Atmospheric and engaging exploration of the language of birds at LSO St Luke’s
  • The Tempest from Vache Baroque and Out of Chaos was a true company effort
  • Odd directorial decisions distract slightly from beautiful singing in Lübeck’s Tosca
  • Freiburg Baroque Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle in a fine all-Schumann Prom
  • Peerless Argerich outshines Shani and the Munich Philharmonic at the Proms
  • Infrasound Ensemble prove they have chemistry in the Gubaidulina festival
  • Benign Beethoven, scrubbed Scriabin: Hadelich, Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic at the Proms
  • Anna Netrebko triumphs as Aida in Zeffirelli’s legendary Verona production
  • Paul Curran’s new Verona production La traviata has intimate moments and crowd exuberance
  • Stefano Poda’s concept is consistent for the 2026 revival of Nabucco in the Verona Arena

RECENT COMMENTS

  • Carlos on Freiburg Baroque Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle in a fine all-Schumann Prom
  • Nicolay on Rossini’s Le siège de Corinthe opens the ROF 2026 with musical splendour under siege from its own staging
  • Ken Ward on Jamie Barton and Clay Hilley shine in a fine Das Lied von der Erde at the Proms
  • Eliza L on R.I.P. Claire Seymour (1970-2024)
  • Nicolay Hernández on Overwhelming Elgar and Tchaikovsky at the Season Opening by Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic

SEEN AND HEARD'S RECENT REVIEWS

  • Atmospheric and engaging exploration of the language of birds at LSO St Luke’s (09/09/2026)
__________________________________
  • The Tempest from Vache Baroque and Out of Chaos was a true company effort (09/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Odd directorial decisions distract slightly from beautiful singing in Lübeck’s Tosca (09/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Freiburg Baroque Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle in a fine all-Schumann Prom (08/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Peerless Argerich outshines Shani and the Munich Philharmonic at the Proms (07/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Infrasound Ensemble prove they have chemistry in the Gubaidulina festival (07/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Benign Beethoven, scrubbed Scriabin: Hadelich, Petrenko and the Berlin Philharmonic at the Proms (06/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Anna Netrebko triumphs as Aida in Zeffirelli’s legendary Verona production (06/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Paul Curran’s new Verona production La traviata has intimate moments and crowd exuberance (06/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Stefano Poda’s concept is consistent for the 2026 revival of Nabucco in the Verona Arena (06/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Holy Fool at the Park Theatre about Shostakovich is a ‘must see’ for music and theatre-lovers alike (06/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Gardiner, Beczała, Chailly and the Bayreuth Festival Orchestra crown Santander in 2026 (05/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Magic Flute, Trifonov, Leonskaja and Sokolov mark a brilliant Santander 2026 first half (05/09/2026) __________________________________
  • Zurich Opera’s Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera is a triumph of singing and acting in Edinburgh (05/09/2026) __________________________________
  • The ninth revival of Zeffirelli’s 2010 Turandot is still impressive in the Verona Arena (05/09/2026) __________________________________
  • INTERVIEWS, ARTICLES, NEWS, AND SEASON PREVIEWS

    • Nelsons and BSO’s Marriage of Figaro: A triumphant platform performance but trouble behind the scenes (26/08/2026)
    __________________________________
  • Northern Ireland Opera’s stages Carmen for the first time in September 2026 (25/08/2026) __________________________________
  • Oxford Opera Company stage Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro at Oxford Playhouse in October (23/08/2026) __________________________________
  • Tech mogul and conductor Mandle Cheung in conversation with Colin Clarke (19/08/2026) __________________________________
  • Sir Bryn Terfel CBE named as Artistic Director of Oxford International Opera and stars as Scarpia (13/08/2026) __________________________________
  • Sir Mark Elder approaches his 80th birthday next June with landmark 2026-27 performances (10/08/2026) __________________________________
  • Between intimacy and scale: four days at the Verbier Festival 2026 (05/08/2026) __________________________________
  • BBC Proms 2026 on TV and BBC iPlayer (18/07/2026) __________________________________
  • English National Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty to screen at over 150 Cinemas across the UK from 13 October 2026  (18/07/2026) __________________________________
  • A post-card from Aldeburgh: a round-up of some of the excellent concerts at this year’s Festival (03/07/2026) __________________________________
  • Adrian Partington and Jonathan Hope introduce Gloucester Cathedral’s new organ (03/07/2026) __________________________________
  • Royal Ballet and Opera Cinema Season 2026-2027 (27/05/2026) __________________________________
  • John Quinn talks to Three Choirs Festival CEO David Francis (22/05/2026) __________________________________
  • Elim Chan is the San Francisco Symphony’s new Music Director (22/05/2026) __________________________________
  • King Charles III unveils new Main Stage curtains at the Royal Opera House (16/05/2026) __________________________________
  • Follow us

    Copyright © 2026 Seen and Heard International | All rights reserved |Privacy Policy
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.