Jim Pritchard

An excellent 2023 cast puts the fizz back into Vienna State Opera’s venerable Die Fledermaus

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AustriaAustria Johann Strauss II, Die Fledermaus: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Simone Young (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Jakob Pitzer) from the Vienna State Opera, 31.12.2023. (JPr)

Hiroshi Amako (Alfred) and Camilla Nylund (Rosalinde) © WS/Michael Pöhn

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Alexei Ratmansky reinvigorates and re-choreographs Coppélia for La Scala Ballet

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ItalyItaly Alexei Ratmansky’s Coppélia: Dancers of La Scala Ballet, Orchestra of La Scala, Milan / Paul Connelly (conductor). Broadcast (directed by Stefania Grimaldi) from La Scala, Milan, 17.12.2023. (JPr)

Timofej Andrijashenko (Franz) and Nicoletta Manni (Swanilda) © Brescia e Amisano/Teatro alla Scala

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The Royal Ballet’s cosily familiar The Nutcracker returns to welcome in Christmas yet again

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, The Schola Cantorum of The London Oratory School, London Oratory Junior Choir (director: Charles Cole), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Andrew Litton (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Peter Jones) for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 12.12.2023 and seen at Everyman Chelmsford, Essex, 18.12.2023. (JPr)

Anna Rose O’Sullivan (Sugar Plum Fairy) and Marcelino Sambé (Prince) © Alice Pennefather

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A very well sung new Turandot in Naples is not the car crash it might appear to be

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ItalyItaly Puccini, Turandot: Children’s Chorus (director: Stefania Rinaldi), Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro di San Carlo / Dan Ettinger (conductor). Livestreamed on medici.tv from Teatro di San Carlo, Naples. 9.12.2023. (JPr)

Vasily Barkhatov’s Turandot at Naples’s Teatro di San Carlo

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The Metropolitan Opera’s Florencia en el Amazonas fails to float my boat

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United StatesUnited States Daniel Catán, Florencia en el Amazonas: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor). Transmitted live (directed by Gary Halvorson) and seen at Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 9.12.2023. (JPr)

Ailyn Pérez (Florencia Grimaldi) with waterlilies © Ken Howard/Met Opera

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La Scala’s new ‘stand and deliver’ Don Carlo is excellently sung with Netrebko and Garanča outstanding

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ItalyItaly Verdi, Don Carlo: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Teatro alla Scala Orchestra and Chorus / Riccardo Chailly (conductor). Livestreamed on Medici.tv from Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 7.12.2023. (JPr)

Anna Netrebko (Elisabeth de Valois) © Brescia e Amisano/Teatro alla Scala

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Dancing in a Winter Wonderland: Aljaž and Janette return to celebrate love, kindness, family and Christmas

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Aljaž and Janette – Dancing in a Winter Wonderland: Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara (co-creators and choreography) and Company (Miranda Wilford, Adrian Hansel [featured singers], Robbie Kmetoni, Faye Huddleston [lead partners], Kiera Brunton, Jack Dargen, Kate Kenrick, George Michaelides, Tony Scott-Obene, Rose Wild [ensemble]), Gareth Walker (show director and choreographer), Coldwell (associate director and assistant chorographer), Matt Howes (musical director), Doug FF Cairns (set and lighting designer), Ryan Howard (screen content). Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, 1.12.2023. (JPr)

Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara © Fiona Whyte for The TCB Group

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