Jim Pritchard

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, Tonyé Scott-Obene, Rose Wild [ensemble]), Gareth Walker (show director and choreographer), Scott 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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You’ll remember Asmik Grigorian’s singing as Salome long after Dmitri Tcherniakov’s production is forgotten

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GermanyGermany Richard Strauss, Salome: Soloists, Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg / Kent Nagano (conductor). Recorded live (directed by Andy Sommer) at the Staatsoper Hamburg on 29.11.2023 and available until 27.4.2024 on ARTE Concert. (JPr)

John Daszak (Herod), Kyle Ketelsen (Jokanaan) and Asmik Grigorian (Salome) © Monika Rittershaus

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Robert Wilson’s static Paris Turandot focuses the mind on Puccini’s score and some excellent singing

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FranceFrance Puccini, Turandot: Soloists, Maîtrise des Hauts-de-Seine, Chorus, Children’s Choir and Orchestra of Paris Opera / Marco Armiliato (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by François Roussillon) from the Opéra Bastille, Paris, 13.11.2023. (JPr)\

Iréne Theorin (Turandot) and Brian Jagde (Calaf) in Robert Wilson’s Turandot

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Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote is reviewed through today’s lens: could the Royal Ballet dance any better?

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Minkus (arr. and orch. Martin Yates), Don Quixote: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Valery Ovsyanikov (conductor). Recorded live (directed by Ross MacGibbon) at the Royal Opera House, London, 7.11.2023 and seen at Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, Essex. 13.11.2023. (JPr)

Matthew Ball as Basilio in Don Quixote © Andrej Uspenski

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NT Live Skylight: David Hare’s play is as relevant in 2023, as in 1995 or 2014

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom NT Live – David Hare’s Skylight: Captured live (directed by Robin Lough) at London’s Wyndham’s Theatre on 17.7.2014 and available again in cinemas from 16.11.2023. (JPr)

Bill Nighy (Tom Sergeant) and Carey Mulligan (Kyra Hollis) in Skylight © John Haynes

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Netrebko and Guerrero impress in an eye-watering revival of Carsen’s Vienna Manon Lescaut

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AustriaAustria Puccini, Manon Lescaut: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Jader Bignamini (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Anna Gettel) from Vienna State Opera on 8.11.2023. (JPr)

Robert Carsen’s Manon Lescaut Act II © Wiener Staatsoper

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