Jim Pritchard

Misconceived and clichéd: the puppetry of the new Vienna Fidelio eclipses its singers and orchestra

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AustriaAustria Beethoven, Fidelio: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Vienna State Opera / Franz Welser-Möst (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Dominik Kepczynski) from Vienna State Opera, 19.12.2025. (JPr)

Rocco’s ‘gold’ aria – [l-r] Kathrin Zukowski (Marzelline), Tareq Nazmi (Rocco) and Malin Byström (Leonore) © Werner Kmetitsch/WS

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The Met’s Andrea Chénier has impressive singing from Beczała and Yoncheva and Rustioni’s sure hand

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United StatesUnited States The Met: Live in HD – Giordano, Andrea Chénier: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Daniele Rustioni (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Gary Halvorson) from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 13.12.2025. (JPr)

Piotr Beczała (Andrea Chénier) and Sonya Yoncheva in Act I © Karen Almond/Met Opera

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The Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker, though venerable, is still a showcase for the company and attracts new audiences

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Students of The Royal Ballet School, The Schola Cantorum of The London Oratory School, London Oratory Junior Choir (director: Charles Cole), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Charlotte Politi (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Peter Jones) for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 10.12.2025. (JPr)

Reece Clarke (Prince) and Mayara Magri (Sugar Plum Fairy) © Andrej Uspenski

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Tetelman and Miknevičiūtė are outstanding in the return of Fedora to Berlin after 95 years

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GermanyGermany Giordano, Fedora: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin / John Fiore (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Nele Mϋnchmeyer) from the Deutsche Oper Berlin on medici.tv, 2.12.2025. (JPr)

Vida Miknevičiūtė (Fedora),  Julia Muzychenko (behind, Olga) and Jonathan Tetelman (Loris) © Bettina Stöss

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The immense promise of Grigoryan and De Tommaso radiates out of Zeffirelli’s vintage Met La bohème

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United StatesUnited States Puccini, La bohème: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Keri Lynn-Wilson (conductor). Recorded live (directed by Gary Halvorson) at the Met on 8.11.2025 and seen at the Everyman Cinema, Chelmsford, Essex. (JPr)

Freddie De Tommaso (Rodolfo) and Julian Grigoryan (Mimì) © Karen Almond/Met Opera

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Francesca Hayward and Marcelino Sambé are delightful in Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée ‘for 2025’

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Sir Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Jonathan Lo (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Ross MacGibbon) from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 5.11.2025. (JPr)

Francesca Hayward (Lise) and Marcelino Sambé (Colas) © Alice Pennefather

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