Une Turandot dans la plus pure tradition

By Sébastien Herbecq, 08 February 2016

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“Michael Schønwandt trouve des couleurs pucciniennes inédites.”

Reviewed at Opéra Berlioz (Le Corum), Montpellier on 7 February 2016

Puccini, Turandot

Michael Schønwandt, Conductor

Yannis Kokkos, Director, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Katrin Kapplusch, Turandot

Rudy Park, Calaf

Mariangela Sicilia, Liù

Gianluca Buratto, Timur

Éric Huchet, Emperor Altoum

Changhan Lim, Ping

Loïc Félix, Pang

Avi Klemberg, Pong

Florian Cafiero, Mandarin

Natalie Van Parys, Choreography

Patrice Trottier, Lighting Designer

Anne Blancard-Kokkos

Noëlle Gény, Choirmaster / chorus director

Merion Powell, Choirmaster / chorus director

Caroline Comola, Choirmaster / chorus director

Chœur de l'Opéra national Montpellier Occitanie

Chœur de l'Opéra national de Lorraine

Chœur Opéra Junior - Jeune Opéra

Orchestre national Montpellier Occitanie

Yannis Kokkos stages Guillaume Tell in Tokyo

Nahoko Gotoh, 30th November

For his new staging of Rossini’s Guillaume Tell at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, director Yannis Kokkos avoids specific contemporary references, choosing a setting that transcends the times.

****1

Beautiful and full of complexity: Hamburg Ballet's Sylvia

Maggie Foyer, 24th June

John Neumeier's Sylvia is a ballet that, like Greek theatre, speaks for all time and is a joy to watch.

*****

A dark, gothic Lucia di Lammermoor finally makes it to La Scala

Laura Servidei, 13th April

Riccardo Chailly conducts a wonderful, integral performance of Donizetti’s masterpiece, with two of the greatest bel canto singers of our times.

*****

Storm clouds gather over Verdi Festival opener

Mark Pullinger, 22nd September

Audience protests against Roberto Abbado interrupt the opening night of the festival, Yannis Kokkos' staging of La forza del destino.

***11

A feast for bass voices in the Staatsoper's sombre Boris Godunov

George Jahn, 15th May

That Boris was sung by a Ukrainian in times like this might or might not have been a coincidence. But that Alexander Tsymbalyuk was an excellent choice for the role is indisputable.

****1

Russians bearing gifts: Les Troyens in Edinburgh

David Smythe, 28th August

A rare chance to see Berlioz's five act epic Les Troyens. Huge Russian forces from the Mariinsky Opera under Valery Gergiev visit the Edinburgh Festival.

***11

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Sébastien Herbecq

Sébastien a pratiqué pendant 11 ans le violon avant d'intégrer la classe de chant lyrique du Conservatoire de Montpellier. Titulaire d'un master en droit et management de la culture, ce grand amateur de musique classique, admirateur des belles voix, arpente depuis son plus jeune âge les salles d'opéra. Il est particulièrement sensible au répertoire lyrique de ses compositeurs fétiches : Wagner, Richard Strauss, Verdi et Rossini. Dramaturge auprès de l'Opéra de Marseille à partir de 2017, il cesse son activité de critique l'année suivante ; depuis 2019, il est dramaturge à La Monnaie/De Munt.