Jim Pritchard

Pfitzner’s Palestrina is conducted by Thielemann, the opera’s tireless advocate, and triumphs in Vienna

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AustriaAustria Hans Pfitzner’s Palestrina: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Christian Thielemann (conductor). Livestreamed (directed by Ella Gallieni) from the Vienna State Opera, 12.12.2024. (JPr)

Michael Laurenz (Bernardo Novagerio) and Wolfgang Koch (Cardinal Borromeo) © Wiener Staatsoper / Michael Pöhn

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A star is born: Carolina López Moreno brings Puccini’s Magda vividly to life in LSO’s La rondine

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Puccini, La rondine (concert performance): Soloists, London Symphony Chorus and Orchestra / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Barbican Hall, London, 12.12.2024. (JPr)

Carolina López Moreno sings Magda with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano © Mark Allan

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Ashton’s Cinderella for The Royal Ballet focusses on steps but ignores the story

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Prokofiev, Cinderella: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Jonathan Lo (conductor). Broadcast live from the Royal Ballet & Opera, Covent Garden, London, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 10.12.2024. (JPr)

WIlliam Bracewell as the Prince and Fumi Kaneko as Cinderella © Andrej Uspenski

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Muscato’s compelling new La Scala La forza del destino is dominated by Netrebko’s Leonora and Tézier’s Carlo

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ItalyItaly Verdi, La forza del destino: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala, Milan / Riccardo Chailly (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Arnalda Canali) on medici.tv from Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 7.12.2024. (JPr)

Huanhong Li (Alcalde) and Ludovic Tézier (Carlo) © Teatro alla Scala / Brescia e Amisano

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Claus Guth’s Vienna Turandot lacks epic grandeur but is redeemed by some fine singing

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AustriaAustria Puccini, Turandot: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Marco Armiliato (conductor). Filmed at the Vienna State Opera (directed by Tiziano Mancini) on 16.12.2023 and currently available on medici.tv. (JPr)

Jonas Kaufmann (Calaf) and Asmik Grigorian (Turandot) © Monika Rittershaus

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A cast for the ages? Lise Davidsen, Freddie De Tommaso and Quinn Kelsey bring the Met Tosca to true life

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United StatesUnited States Puccini, Tosca: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor). The Met Live in HD broadcast to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 23.11.2024. (JPr)

Lise Davidsen (Tosca) and Freddie De Tommaso (Cavaradossi) © Met Opera/Marty Sohl

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