Barlett Sher’s Tales of Hoffmann revival at the Met loses the emotional core of this complex opera

United StatesUnited States Offenbach, Les contes d’Hoffmann: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera / Marco Armiliato (conductor). Broadcast Live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera, New York, to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, 5.10.2024. (JPr)

Vasilisa Berzhanskaya (Nicklausse), Benjamin Bernheim (Hoffmann), and Christian Van Horn (Lindorf) © Karen Almond/Met Opera

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A dynamic ensemble cast makes Cluedo 2 overcome its leaden start

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Maurice Gran and Laurence Marks’s Cluedo 2: Palace Theatre, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, 17.9.2024. (JPr)

[l-r] Ellie Leach (Miss Scarlett), Edward Howells (Professor Plum), Gabriel Paul (Reverend Green), Hannah Boyce (Mrs Peacock), Dawn Buckland (Mrs White) and Jason Durr (Colonel Mustard)

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Saffron Opera Group’s Meistersinger for its 10th anniversary was a triumph over adversity

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Wagner, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Soloists, Saffron Opera Group Chorus (chorus director: James Davey), Saffron Opera Group Orchestra / Michael Thorne (conductor). Saffron Hall, Saffron Walden, Essex, 15.9.2024. (JPr)

Saffron Opera Group’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (final scene) © Sara Platt

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Siobhan Stagg steps in as Susanna and is the undoubted star of David McVicar’s Marriage of Figaro revival

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro): Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Royal Opera / Julia Jones (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Rhodri Huw) to Cineworld Basildon, Essex, from Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, 10.9.2024. (JPr)

David McVicar’s The Marriage of Figaro Act I © Clive Barda

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Riccardo Chailly’s Lucerne Mahler 7 is one of the very best

SwitzerlandSwitzerland Lucerne Summer Festival 2024 – Mahler’s Seventh Symphony: Lucerne Festival Orchestra / Riccardo Chailly (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Ute Feudel) from the Konzertsaal des KKL Luzern, 16.8.2024 and available on ARTE Concert until 19.8.2025. (JPr)

Riccardo Chailly conducts the Lucerne Festival Orchestra

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A micro-managed Salzburg Mahler Ninth from Andris Nelsons and the VPO was fine, how could it not be?

AustriaAustria Salzburg Festival [5] – Mahler, Symphony No.9: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra / Andris Nelsons (conductor). Broadcast live (directed by Leopold Knötzl) from the Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, 11.8.2024 and available on STAGE+. (JPr)

Andris Nelsons conducts the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in Salzburg

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