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José M. Irurzun

San Sebastián’s disappointing Carmen falls short on emotion

13/08/202412/08/2024 by José Irurzun

SpainSpain San Sebastián Music Fortnight – Bizet, Carmen: Easo Chorus, Euskadi Orchestra / José Miguel Pérez Sierra (conductor). Auditorio Kursaal, San Sebastián, Spain, 10.8.2024. (JMI)

Rihab Chaieb (Carmen) and Dmytro Popov (Don José) © I. Ibáñez

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Categories Festival 2024, Festivals, International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags José M. Irurzun, San Sebastian Leave a comment

A well-travelled Die Zauberflöte enjoys a great success in Valencia

10/06/2024 by José Irurzun

SpainSpain Mozart, Die Zauberflöte: Soloists, Generalitat Valenciana Chorus, Comunitat Valenciana Orchestra / James Gaffigan (conductor). Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia, 8.6.2024. (JMI)

Serena Sáenz (Pamina) and Rainelle Krause (Queen of the Night) © Arts Photography

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Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags José M. Irurzun, Valencia Leave a comment

An excellent production in Madrid of a Caccini opera from 400 years ago

09/06/2024 by José Irurzun

SpainSpain Francesca Caccini, La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’Isola d’Alcina: Forma Antiqva, Soloists of the Orchestra of the Teatro Real / Aarón Zapico (conductor). Teatros del Canal, Madrid, 7.6.2024. (JMI)

Vivica Genaux (Melissa) © P. Lorente

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Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags José M. Irurzun, Madrid Leave a comment

An intriguing, if unevenly sung, Médée from William Christie and Les Arts Florissants in Madrid

07/06/2024 by José Irurzun

SpainSpain Charpentier, Médée: Chorus and Orchestra of Les Arts Florissants / William Christie (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 6.6.2024. (JMI)

William Christie © J. del Real

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Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags José M. Irurzun, Madrid Leave a comment

Two superb singers, Nadine Sierra and Pretty Yende, sing from opera, zarzuela and musicals at Teatro Real

28/04/2024 by José Irurzun

SpainSpain Various: Nadine Sierra, Pretty Yende (sopranos). Teatro Real Orchestra / Pablo Mielgo (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 25.4.2024. (JMI)

Nadine Sierra © J. del Real

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Teatro Real’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg falls short of expectations

28/04/2024 by José Irurzun

SpainSpain Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Teatro Real Chorus and Orchestra / Pablo Heras Casado (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 24.4.2024. (JMI)

Sebastian Kohlhepp (front, David) in Die Meistersinger Act III © J. del Real

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Categories International Opera, Opera & Ballet Tags José M. Irurzun, Madrid 2 Comments

A compelling double bill of Poulenc and Schoenberg at Madrid’s Teatro Real

22/03/2024 by José Irurzun

SpainSpain Poulenc, Schoenberg: Soloists, Orchestra of the Teatro Real / Jérémie Rhorer (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 19.3.2024. (JMI)

Malin Byström (Erwartung) © J. del Real

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An impressive production of Weinberg’s The Passenger at Madrid’s Teatro Real

07/03/2024 by José Irurzun

SpainSpain M. Weinberg, The Passenger (Die Passagierin): Teatro Real Chorus and Orchestra / Mirga Gražinytè-Tyla (conductor). Teatro Real, Madrid, 4.3.2024. (JMI)

Amanda Majeski (Marta) and Daveda Karanas (Lisa) © J. del Real

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TOP 10 SEEN AND HEARD POSTS

  • Infrasound Ensemble prove they have chemistry in the Gubaidulina festival
  • 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
  • Freiburg Baroque Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle in a fine all-Schumann Prom
  • Peerless Argerich outshines Shani and the Munich Philharmonic at the Proms
  • 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
  • Holy Fool at the Park Theatre about Shostakovich is a ‘must see’ for music and theatre-lovers alike

RECENT COMMENTS

  • 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
  • Edward Farrell on Stunning realisation of Messiaen’s visionary Saint François d’Assise at the Salzburg Festival

SEEN AND HEARD'S RECENT REVIEWS

  • Infrasound Ensemble prove they have chemistry in the Gubaidulina festival (09/09/2026)
__________________________________
  • 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) __________________________________
  • 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) __________________________________
  • 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) __________________________________
  • The Proms audience show great enthusiam for a high-profile orchestral visit (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)
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  • 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) __________________________________
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