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Elena Luporini

Elena Luporini

After completing their Master's degree in Musicology in Rome, Elena has now moved to Berlin to dedicate themselves to more things musical. With a publication on Béla Bartók and a seminar at the Humboldt-Universität underway, their interests mostly veer toward 20th-century opera, with some forays into queer musicology. Some of their latest undertakings also include oboe lessons, stencil-making and tea-making.

Author:Elena Luporini

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Songs from home: Magdalena Kožená in conversation

By Elena Luporini, 10 November 2025

Awarded with the 2025 Antonín Dvořák Award together with her husband Sir Simon Rattle, Magdalena Kožená talks about the richness of Czech music, language barriers, and the importance of reading programme notes.

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Songs from home: Magdalena Kožená in conversation

By Elena Luporini

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Mambo! The Tokyo Philharmonic and Myung-whun Chung launch European tour in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 28 October 2025

The Tokyo Philharmonic visits the Berlin Philharmonie to bring finesse to a catchy programme featuring Bernstein, Gershwin and Prokofiev.

****1

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Tokyo Philharmonic and Myung-whun Chung launch European tour in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Everybody wants to play some Bach: Fazıl Say’s jazzed-up Goldberg Variations in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 30 September 2025

The Berlin Philharmonie welcomes Fazıl Say for a solo recital that dares the audience to keep their feet still, featuring Bach and Say’s own compositions.

****1

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Fazıl Say’s jazzed-up Goldberg Variations in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Pitch perfect in Berlin: Kirill Petrenko conducts Dusapin, Zimmermann and Brahms

By Elena Luporini, 17 September 2025

At this year's Musikfest Berlin, Kirill Petrenko conducts his Berliner Philharmoniker in a devilishly intricate programme.

****1

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Pitch perfect: Petrenko conducts Dusapin, Zimmermann and Brahms

By Elena Luporini

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Low on laughs: Die schweigsame Frau in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 19 July 2025

Newly General Music Director Christian Thielemann and Jan Philipp Gloger bring Richard Strauss' Die schweigsame Frau to the Staatsoper Berlin for the first time, but la commedia is hardly stupenda.

**111

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Low on laughs: Die schweigsame Frau in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

Pretty little Lied called love: Diana Damrau, Jonas Kaufmann and Helmut Deutsch in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 30 June 2025

Diana Damrau, Jonas Kaufmann and Helmut Deutsch's European tour reaches Berlin with a heart-on-sleeve programme of Lieder by Strauss and Mahler.

***11

Diana Damrau, Jonas Kaufmann and Helmut Deutsch in Berlin recital

By Elena Luporini

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Anatomy of a love: Rebecca Saunders’ first opera Lash at Deutsche Oper Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 20 June 2025

Nearing the close of the season, Deutsche Oper Berlin premieres Rebecca Saunders’ first opera Lash – Acts of Love, a visceral reflection on love and death.

*****

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Anatomy of a love: Rebecca Saunders’ Lash at Deutsche Oper Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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No podiums required: Camerata Salzburg and Hélène Grimaud in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 19 May 2025

Who needs conductors when you've got synergy? The Camerata Salzburg and Hélène Grimaud bring Mozart and Brahms to Berlin's Philharmonie.

****1

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No podiums required: Camerata Salzburg and Hélène Grimaud in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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A beacon of young talent on the Portuguese Riviera: Cascais Opera Competition

By Elena Luporini, 12 May 2025

The Cascais Opera Competition successfully concludes its second edition – establishing itself as a springboard for emerging singers from all over the world.

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A beacon of talent on Portugal’s Riviera: Cascais Opera Competition

By Elena Luporini

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A Norma cooking on medium gas at Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden

By Elena Luporini, 13 April 2025

Despite excellent performances from Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Elmina Hasan, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's new production of Norma lacks a pinch of salt.

***11

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A Norma cooking on medium at Berlin’s Staatsoper Unter den Linden

By Elena Luporini

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To the Moon and back: Janáček’s Mr Brouček visits the Staatsoper Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 16 March 2025

Robert Carsen's new production of Janáček’s The Excursions of Mr Brouček for the Staatsoper Unter den Linden scores a well-deserved success thanks to a stellar – or rather, lunar – conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.

*****

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To the Moon and back: Janáček’s Mr Brouček visits Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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A place to call our own: Marin Alsop in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 22 February 2025

For her debut at the head of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Marin Alsop reflects on what a ‘home’ is through works by Tarkiainen, Dean, Copland and Villa-Lobos.

****1

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A place to call our own: Marin Alsop in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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An orchestra under the microscope: German premiere of Srnka's Superorganisms

By Elena Luporini, 13 February 2025

At the Philharmonie, David Robertson steps in for Kirill Petrenko for a concert all about the wonders of nature, featuring Varèse, Srnka and Beethoven.

****1

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Robertson conducts the German premiere of Srnka's Superorganisms

By Elena Luporini

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Waiting for Kurtág: Fin de partie receives its Berlin premiere at Unter den Linden

By Elena Luporini, 12 January 2025

Director Johannes Erath and conductor Alexander Soddy bring György Kurtág's first and only opera to the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, starting the year with a dash of Beckett.

****1

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Waiting for Kurtág: Fin de partie receives Berlin premiere

By Elena Luporini

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Berlin Phil à la hongroise: Seong-Jin Cho plays Brahms, Ligeti and Bartók

By Elena Luporini, 09 December 2024

The Berlin Phil celebrates Seong-Jin Cho's recently inaugurated residency with a Hungarian-themed chamber concert.

****1

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Berlin Phil à la hongroise with Seong-Jin Cho

By Elena Luporini

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Carnival and composure: Payare, Trifonov and the Montreal SO in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 25 November 2024

Rafael Payare, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Daniil Trifonov warm up Berlin audiences with a high-temperature concert at the Philharmonie.

****1

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Carnival and composure: Payare, Trifonov and the Montreal SO in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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A blade too dull: Kosky directs Sweeney Todd at Komische Oper Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 17 November 2024

With a brand new production by Barrie Kosky, Komische Oper Berlin's first venture into the Sondheim repertoire mostly falls flat.

**111

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A blade too dull: Kosky directs Sweeney Todd at Komische Oper

By Elena Luporini

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From Paris to Berlin: Juanjo Mena conducts Pierné, Tailleferre and Ravel

By Elena Luporini, 26 September 2024

At the Philharmonie, an all-French programme conducted by Juanjo Mena takes the audience back to the vibrant Parisian scene of the 1910s and 20s.

****1

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From Paris to Berlin: Juanjo Mena conducts Tailleferre and Ravel

By Elena Luporini

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Works of farewell: Mälkki conducts Saariaho's HUSH and Das Lied von der Erde in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 02 September 2024

An unusual double bill opens the new season at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, with Susanna Mälkki offering a moving take on Saariaho and Mahler.

****1

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Works of farewell: Mälkki at Musikfest Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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The dark side of Arcadia: Collegium Vocale Gent at Musikfest Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 27 August 2024

At this year's Musikfest Berlin, the Collegium Vocale Gent and Philippe Herreweghe perform a programme inspired by Arcadia, in what could might as well be a pastoral concept album.

****1

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The dark side of Arcadia: Collegium Vocale Gent at Musikfest Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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The rise and fall of resistance: Dalbavie’s Melancholie des Widerstands premieres in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 10 July 2024

The world premiere of Marc-André Dalbavie's Melancholie des Widerstands at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden marks the birth of a new genre – the film-opera – starring conductor Marie Jacquot and Philippe Jaroussky.

*****

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Dalbavie’s Melancholie des Widerstands premieres in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Earth, wind and fire: Juraj Valčuha and Iveta Apkalna at the Konzerthaus Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 05 July 2024

For the end of the season, Berlin's Konzerthaus unleashes the fury of the elements with a concert featuring Bernd Richard Deutsch's Organ Concerto Okeanos, together with works by Sibelius and Shostakovich.

*****

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Earth, wind and fire: Valčuha and Apkalna at the Konzerthaus Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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An historical affair: a new Khovanshchina at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden

By Elena Luporini, 02 June 2024

With Claus Guth directing and Simone Young on the podium, the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's new production of Mussorgsky's Khovanshchina proves that the past isn't really past.

****1

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An historical affair: Khovanshchina at the Staatsoper Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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A tongue-in-cheek Widmann premiere in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 30 May 2024

As this season's Composer-in-Residence, Jörg Widmann premieres his Horn Concerto at Berlin's Philharmonie, with dedicatee Stephan Dohr as soloist and Sir Simon Rattle conducting.

****1

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A tongue-in-cheek Widmann premiere in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Heads or tails? Iván Fischer conducts Mahler's Sixth in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 15 April 2024

At the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Iván Fischer's Mahler with the Staatskapelle Berlin huffs and puffs, but doesn't fully convince.

***11

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Heads or tails? Iván Fischer conducts Mahler's Sixth in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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A suite of delights: Jörg Widmann and Lisa Batiashvili in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 10 April 2024

A varied programme of chamber music charms the Berlin Phil, featuring works by Widmann and a premiere by young talent Tsotne Zedginidze.

****1

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A suite of delights: Jörg Widmann and Lisa Batiashvili in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Kosky does Straus: Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will at Komische Oper Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 22 March 2024

It takes two to tango... but what about vaudeville? A rerun of Barrie Kosky's production of Oscar Straus' Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will owes most of its charm to the two leads.

***11

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Kosky's Eine Frau, die weiß, was sie will at Komische Oper

By Elena Luporini

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Batons and broomsticks: Joana Mallwitz conducts Dvořák, Grieg and Kodály in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 22 February 2024

A folk-centred programme delights Berlin's Konzerthaus under the conducting of Joana Mallwitz – with the special participation of soloist Elisabeth Leonskaja.

****1

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Batons and broomsticks with Joana Mallwitz in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Dionysian and Apollonian: René Jacobs conducts L'Orfeo in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 18 February 2024

In a concert performance at the Berlin Philharmonie, conductor René Jacobs gives his own – thrilling – take on Monteverdi's L'Orfeo.

*****

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Dionysian and Apollonian: René Jacobs conducts L'Orfeo in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Sounds of the contemporary: André de Ridder and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester

By Elena Luporini, 21 January 2024

Closing the 26th edition of the Ultraschall Berlin festival, André de Ridden and the DSO prove the vitality of the contemporary orchestra with a programme featuring works by Streich, Chin and Andre.

****1

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Sounds of the contemporary from the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester

By Elena Luporini

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Can't start a fire without a spark: Kirill Petrenko conducts Dutilleux and Bartók in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 11 January 2024

In the middle of a dark winter, Kirill Petrenko's interpretation of Dutilleux's First Symphony and Bartók's The Wooden Prince brightens the Grand Hall of Berlin's Philharmonie with a variety of colours.

****1

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Kirill Petrenko conducts Dutilleux and Bartók in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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May I have your attention? Pekka Kuusisto and the DSO in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 17 December 2023

At the head of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, Pekka Kuusisto greets the holidays in Berlin with a Haydn-centred concert featuring works by Anna Clyne, Caroline Shaw and Beethoven.

****1

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May I have your attention? Pekka Kuusisto and the DSO in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Searching for the complete violinist: Pavel Vernikov and the Classic Violin Olympus

By Elena Luporini, 19 December 2023

Artistic Director Pavel Vernikov introduces the Classic Violin Olympus International Competition, to be held in April 2025 – and what sets the contest apart from every other music competition.

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Searching for the complete violinist: Pavel Vernikov

By Elena Luporini

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Beyond conventions: Jakub Józef Orliński and Il Pomo d'Oro in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 30 November 2023

Touring with the ensemble Il Pomo d'Oro, Jakub Józef Orliński reinvents the Baroque recital formula at the Berlin Philharmonic featuring breakdancing, an audience sing-along and a good deal of fun.

*****

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Beyond conventions: Jakub Józef Orliński and Il Pomo d'Oro in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Light and shadows in Rattle and Sellars' Médée at Staatsoper Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 19 November 2023

Reuniting two old friends and collaborators, the Staatsoper Berlin presents a new production of Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Médée, with mixed results.

***11

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Light and shadows in Rattle and Sellars' Médée at Staatsoper Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Opposites attract: Ticciati conducts a Pépin premiere and Bruckner's Ninth in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 15 October 2023

Camille Pépin's Le Sommeil a pris ton empreinte, a violin concerto dedicated to Renaud Capuçon, receives its German premiere.

*****

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Opposites attract: Ticciati conducts a Pépin premiere in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Winds of change: the Stegreif Orchester close Musikfest Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 18 September 2023

With the works of four female composers as a starting point, the Stegreif Orchester close Berlin's Musikfest with their latest project, a symphony of change – both musical and political.

****1

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Winds of change: the Stegreif Orchester close Musikfest Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Sounds of nature: Sir George Benjamin conducts Francesco Filidei world premiere in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 03 September 2023

At the Musikfest Berlin, Sir George Benjamin and the Ensemble Modern present an all-contemporary programme reflecting on nature, including Cantico delle Creature.

*****

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Sounds of nature: Francesco Filidei world premiere in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Aimez-vous Rachmaninov? Alexander Melnikov at Musikfest Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 27 August 2023

Russian pianist Alexander Melnikov is joined on stage at the Philharmonie by Alexander Rudin, Nadezhda Pavlova and Olga Pashchenko to give the audience a taste of Rachmaninov's chamber repertoire.

****1

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Aimez-vous Rachmaninov? Alexander Melnikov at Musikfest Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Death Becomes Him: Haas' Thomas gets a new staging in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 25 June 2023

In a new production for the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, director Barbora Horáková and conductor Max Renne guide the audience through Georg Friedrich Haas' deep reflection on death.

****1

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Death Becomes Him: Haas' Thomas gets a new staging in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Let the river answer: Die schöne Müllerin reinvented in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 26 May 2023

After an idea of baritone Florian Boesch and director Nikolaus Habjan, the Musicbanda Franui recomposes Schubert for a staged performance at Berlin's Staatsoper, opening up new perspectives into the interpretation of the well-known song cycle.

*****

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Let the river answer: Die schöne Müllerin reinvented in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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There's no cure like travel: Dudamel's Americas at Berlin's Philharmonie

By Elena Luporini, 11 May 2023

At Berlin's Philharmonie, Gustavo Dudamel takes the audience on an adventurous journey around the Americas with works by Ortiz, Ginastera and Ives.

****1

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There's no cure like travel: Dudamel's Americas in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Immersive Bach: St Matthew Passion at Deutsche Oper Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 05 May 2023

Benedikt von Peter's new staging of Bach's St Matthew Passion premieres at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, under Alessandro De Marchi. But despite the good synergy between director and conductor and a first-rate vocal ensemble, the production falls somewhat flat.

***11

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Immersive Bach: St Matthew Passion at Deutsche Oper Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Jérémie Rhorer conducts monumental Beethoven in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 02 April 2023

One of the leading events of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's Festtage, Jérémie Rhorer's interpretation of the Missa solemnis is a monument to the composer... but its marble is not always too cleanly carved.

***11

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Jérémie Rhorer conducts monumental Beethoven in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Emmanuelle Haïm and Handel triumph in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 09 March 2023

Handel's oratorio Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno receives its first-ever performance at Berlin's Philharmonie, proving that in the hands of Emmanuelle Haïm beauty can indeed defeat time.

****1

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Emmanuelle Haïm and Handel triumph in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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No man is an island: Oscar Strasnoy's Robinson has its world premiere in Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 25 February 2023

Commissioned by the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Oscar Strasnoy and Sigrid Behrens' new chamber opera Robinson turns its source into an immersive meditation on modern isolation and loneliness.

*****

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No man is an island: Oscar Strasnoy's Robinson premieres in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Straussian pastoral: Vera-Lotte Boecker is the ideal Daphne at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden

By Elena Luporini, 19 February 2023

Romeo Castellucci's new production of Daphne for the Staatsoper reflects on our relationship with nature, subverting the perspective of Richard Strauss' opera.

***11

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Straussian pastoral: Daphne at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden

By Elena Luporini

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Out of the closet and into the cage: La Cage aux Folles at Komische Oper Berlin

By Elena Luporini, 28 January 2023

Thanks to Barrie Kosky's flamboyant imagination and a solid cast, the Komische Oper's new production of La Cage aux Folles glitters, but could be more gay.

***11

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Out of the closet and into the cage: La Cage aux Folles in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Personal reflections: Esa-Pekka Salonen's Organ Concerto at Berlin's Philharmonie

By Elena Luporini, 19 January 2023

Two forces of nature meet when Esa-Pekka Salonen and Olivier Latry share the stage for the German premiere of Salonen's own Organ Concerto, with a programme that also includes incandescent Bartók.

****1

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Personal reflections: Esa-Pekka Salonen's Organ Concerto in Berlin

By Elena Luporini

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Vladimir Jurowski holds all the aces at Berlin's Konzerthaus

By Elena Luporini, 10 December 2022

Jurowski and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra give the Konzerthaus a night to remember with pungent renditions of Goldmann, Weill and Stravinsky's Jeu de cartes.

*****

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Vladimir Jurowski holds all the aces at Berlin's Konzerthaus

By Elena Luporini