Jim Pritchard

On tour with A Christmas to Remember, dancers Aljaž and Janette prove a triple threat

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Various composers, Aljaž and Janette – A Christmas to Remember: Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara (co-creators and choreography) and Company (Janine Johnson, Adrian Hansel [featured singers], Robbie Kmetoni, Faye Huddleston [lead partners], Aimee Hipson, Alex Sturman, Kiera Brunton, Nick Stuart [ensemble]), Gareth Walker (director and choreographer), Matt Howes (music supervisor). Cliffs Pavilion, Southend-on-Sea, 3.12.2022. (JPr)

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

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A Trump-like Wotan and child trafficking dominate Valentin Schwarz’s new Bayreuth Rheingold

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GermanyGermany Bayreuth Festival 2022 – Wagner, Das Rheingold: Soloists, Bayreuth Festival Orchestra / Cornelius Meister (conductor). Recorded (directed by Michael Beyer) at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus and available on STAGE+ until 14.11.2047. (JPr)

Valentin Schwarz’s Das Rheingold © Enrico Nawath

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Tcherniakov’s Götterdämmerung in Berlin wipes the slate clean, though any message for us is unclear

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GermanyGermany Wagner, Götterdämmerung: Soloists, Staatsopernchor, Staatskapelle Berlin / Christian Thielemann (conductor). Filmed (directed by Andy Sommer) on 9.11.2022 at Staatsoper Unter den Linden but available until 17.2.2023 on ARTE Concert. (JPr)

Anja Kampe (Brünnhilde), Andreas Schager (Siegfried) and Michael Volle (Wotan) © Monika Rittershaus

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Thielemann’s Siegfried is beautifully crafted as Tcherniakov explores the loss of childhood innocence

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GermanyGermany Wagner, Siegfried: Soloists, Staatskapelle Berlin / Christian Thielemann (conductor). Filmed (directed by Andy Sommer) on 6.11.2022 at Staatsoper Unter den Linden but available until 17.2.2023 on ARTE Concert. (JPr)

Andreas Schager (Siegfried) and Anja Kampe (Brünnhilde) © Monika Rittershaus

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Michael Volle’s Wotan dominates the diminishing returns of Dmitri Tcherniakov’s Berlin Die Walküre

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GermanyGermany Wagner, Die Walküre: Soloists, Staatskapelle Berlin / Christian Thielemann (conductor). Filmed (directed by Andy Sommer) on 3.10.2022 at Staatsoper Unter den Linden but available until 17.2.2023 on ARTE Concert. (JPr)

Michael Volle (Wotan) and Anja Kampe (Brünnhilde) © Monika Rittershaus

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In Munich, Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella continues to confuse as much as it delights

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GermanyGermany Prokofiev, Cinderella: Dancers of Bayerisches Staatsballett, Bayerisches Staatsorchester / Gavin Sutherland (conductor). Nationaltheater, Munich, 13.11.2022. (JPr)

Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella (opening of Act III)

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The Royal Ballet’s A Diamond Celebration honours the Friends of the Royal Opera House

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom The Royal Ballet’s A Diamond Celebration marking 60 years of the Friends of the Royal Opera House: Dancers of the Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Koen Kessels (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Ross MacGibbon) from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 16.11.2022. (JPr)

Steven McRae and Natalia Osipova in concert pour deux © Andrej Uspenski

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