Lise Davidsen’s compellingly expressive singing doesn’t entirely rescue Tobias Kratzer’s Fidelio

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Beethoven, Fidelio: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Sir Antonio Pappano (conductor). Performance of 9.3.2020 (directed for the screen by Rhodri Huw), televised on BBC Four, and reviewed on 26.7.2020. (JPr)

Amanda Forsythe (Marzelline), Georg Zeppenfeld (Rocco) & Lise Davidsen (Leonore)
(c) Bill Cooper

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Watching this 1982 Met Tannhäuser – with Cassilly, Marton and Weikl – after nearly four decades leaves strong abiding memories

United StatesUnited States Wagner, Tannhäuser: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / James Levine (conductor). Performance of 20.12.1982 and reviewed as a Nightly Met Opera Stream on 22.7.2020. (JPr)

Éva Marton (Elisabeth) and Richard Cassilly (Tannhäuser)

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Intimate arrangements for tenor and harp of Latin American songs finds Rolando Villazón close to his best again

FranceFrance Serenata Latina: Rolando Villazón (tenor) and Xavier de Maistre (harp). Live stream from Théâtre des Bouffes Parisiens, Paris, and reviewed on 17.7.2020. (JPr)

Xavier de Maistre (harp) & Rolando Villazón (tenor)

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In 2020 Ben Heppner and Jane Eaglen sing once again to us in the Met’s 1999 Tristan und Isolde

United StatesUnited States Wagner, Tristan und Isolde: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / James Levine (conductor). Performance of 11.12.1999 reviewed as a Nightly Met Opera Stream on 13.7.2020. (JPr)

Jane Eaglen and Ben Heppner in the Met’s Tristan und Isolde

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In 2017 Zenaida Yanowsky bid ‘adieu’ to The Royal Ballet allowing its Ashton heritage to be reconsidered in 2020

United KingdomUnited Kingdom Frederick Ashton Triple Bill – The Dream / Symphonic Variations / Marguerite and Armand: Dancers of The Royal Ballet, London Oratory Junior Choir (directed by Charles Cole), Orchestra of the Royal Opera House / Emmanuel Plasson (conductor). Review of a 7.6.2017 performance, directed for the screen by Ross MacGibbon, and shown on Sky Arts. (JPr)

Zenaida Yanowsky (Marguerite) and Roberto Bolle (Armand) (c) Tristram Kenton

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ENB’s 2019 Cinderella has a ball in-the-round and in 2020 dancers bring poignancy to an empty Theatre in the Woods

United KingdomUnited Kingdom ENB at Home – Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella: Dancers of English National Ballet, English National Ballet Philharmonic / Gavin Sutherland (conductor). Performance from 5.6.2019 and reviewed as a live stream for #ENBatHome on 8.7.2020. (JPr)

English National Ballet’s Cinderella (c) Laurent Liotardo

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Beverly Sills bid farewell to the Met in this 1978 Don Pasquale as we say farewell to Gabriel Bacquier in 2020

United StatesUnited States Donizetti, Don Pasquale: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera, New York / Nicola Rescigno (conductor). 11.1.1979 performance reviewed as Nightly Met Opera Stream on 5.7.2020. (JPr)

The Metropolitan Opera’s Don Pasquale

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