Performer: Mariinsky Theatre Chorus

In einer konventionellen Inszenierung, aber einem stimmungsvollen Bühnenbild stirbt in Baden-Baden Plácido Domingo als Simon Boccanegra einen würdevollen Operntod.

Sous la direction frémissante de Valery Gergiev, les troupes du Théâtre Mariinsky se sont surpassées dans l'œuvre de Wagner. Yulia Matochkina a marqué les esprits en Kundry.

Une Iolanta plus candide que jamais, un orchestre du Mariinsky lumineux dirigé par un Gergiev imaginatif : l'opéra de Tchaïkovski couronne en beauté le week-end Saint-Pétersbourg de la Philharmonie de Paris.

Many scenes could risk to be particularly disturbing,  but their overt brutality appeared functional, to the structure of the drama. A dark, gloomy story as unambiguously told as it should be.

“Our business is rejoicing, our business is rejoicing.” In the Soviet Union, composers quickly learnt when to toe the Party line.

The Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff celebrates its 10th anniversary this autumn, and as part of the celebrations the Mariinsky Opera, under its conductor Valery Gergiev, was invited back for a concert performance of Prokofiev’s comic opera, Betrothal in a Monastery.