BEMF stages Francesca Caccini's Alcina

Colin Balzer (Ruggiero) and Mireille Lebel (Alcina)

Mindy Ella Chu, Hannah De Priest and Megan Stapleton (Coro delle Piante Incantate) and Colin Balzer

Mireille Lebel (Alcina) and Cecilia Duarte (Melissa)

Von Kevin Wells, 14 Juni 2023

Laden, bitte warten...

Veranstaltung anzeigen

“the vocal and dramatic arc of her extended lament managed to create both sympathy and repulsion”

Rezensierte Veranstaltung: New England Conservatory: Jordan Hall, Boston, am 10 Juni 2023

Caccini, La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina

Paul O'Dette, Musikalische Leitung

Stephen Stubbs, Musikalische Leitung

Gilbert Blin, Regie

Anna Watkins, Kostüme

Martin Kelly, Licht

Boston Early Music Festival Orchestra

Mireille Lebel, Alcina

Colin Balzer, Ruggiero

Cecilia Duarte, Melissa / Atlante

Melinda Sullivan, Choreographie

Aufs Korn genommen: Lampes The Dragon of Wantley beim Musikfest Bremen

Jens Klier, 24th August

In der Lachmuskeln strapazierenden Inszenierung formationseigenen Gilbert Blins gelingt dem BEMF ein Opernspaß, der es absolut verdient, vermehrt sein fantastisches Unwesen treiben zu dürfen.

****1

Boston Early Music Festival strikes again with a knockout Octavia

Kevin Wells, 8th June

Once again, the BEMF brings a Baroque opera back to life. Reinhard Keiser’s 1705 Octavia is exceptionally well sung, adroitly staged, designed and danced, with impeccable musicianship.

*****

BEMF presents La serva padrona and Livietta e Tracollo

Kevin Wells, 17th June

A riotous double bill of Pergolesi at the Boston Early Music Festival.

*****

Campra capers: Le Carnaval de Venise

Kevin Wells, 11th June

With Lully’s death in 1687 and Louis XIV’s increasing immersion in religious piety under the influence of Madame de Maintenon, the court ceased to exercise a strangle hold on opera.

****1

Frontalangriff auf die Ohren: Verdis Stiffelio am Theater an der Wien

Norman Schwarze, 13th May

Vasily Barkhatov liefert mit seiner Inszenierung eine nüchterne Lesart von Verdis Stiffelio, aber vor allem wird es laut.

***11

Gluck Festspiele holen faszinierend Paride ed Elena aus dem Abseits

Michael Vieth, 10th May

Die Internationalen Gluck Festspiele in der Metropolregion Nürnberg tragen 2026 das Motto Amor & Psyche. Mit der konzertanten Aufführung der faktisch vergessenen Reformoper Paride ed Elena gelang dem künstlerischen Leiter Michael Hofstetter ein echter Coup.

*****

Weitere Kritiken...

Kevin Wells

Kevin Wells was bitten by the opera bug at 10, having heard a 1936 recording of Jussi Björling singing “Che gelida manina”. He has never been the same since. A student of voice, performance practice, the history of singing and opera, he holds advanced degrees in Italian and has lived and worked in Italy off and on since the 70s. La Scala became a second home as the Met had been during college daze. Now in his native Boston, he works as translator, tutor, and language coach, haunts Symphony Hall, and would haunt the Opera House had it not been demolished in 1958!

Ruggiero liberated again as Boston Early Music Festival stages Francesca Caccini's Alcina