Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Frank Philipp Schlößmann

A strong international cast and fine musicianship from the orchestra carries on Strauss's legacy with a smart, antic romp.

Heinz Holliger’s Lunea, which recently premiered at the Zurich Opera House, is “not an opera”, or so the ground-breaking Swiss composer contends.

Olivier Tambosi’s controversial production of Janáček's Jenůfa first appeared at the Met in 2003.

This revival of Catherine Malfitano’s excellent 2010 production features some splendid singing from Gwyn Hughes Jones as Cavaradossi – but is let down by some poor diction and varying drama.

Despite a miscast Isolde, Wagner's operatic monument to love makes its mark in the production by the composer's great-grandaughter.

Remarkable performances from Karita Mattila and Malin Byström head this strong production of Janáček’s Jenůfa at San Francisco Opera. 

A conceptually diffuse production of Tristan from Katharina Wagner is partially redeemed by stirring orchestral playing under the direction of Christian Thielemann and some fine singing at the opening of the Wagner Festival at Bayreuth.

Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor is a coloratura soprano vehicle and this season’s Dutch National Opera production felicitously starred Jessica Pratt, an internationally celebrated Lucia and a favourite of the Italian public.

Ailyn Perez, Stephen Costello and Simon Keenlyside star in Verdi's La Traviata at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

For many people, to repeat a commonplace, opera is about those "wow" moments, the times when music, voice and staging come together to lift you onto a different plane. In ENO's Tosca last night, a "wow" moment happened more or less whenever Gwyn Hughes Jones opened his mouth: his Cavaradossi had total heroism, total artistry and effortless, silk-smooth phrasing.

Vor 25 Jahren feierte Andreas Homokis Inszenierung von Prokofjews Oper Premiere; in dieser Saison ist sie ein letztes Mal zu sehen. 

Markus Marquardt und Stefan Cerny imponieren in einer nüchternen Inszenierung an der Volksoper Wien.

Just an Arturo Toscaninis 150. Geburtstag fand die Volksopernpremiere von Alfredo Catalani 1892 uraufgeführter Oper La Wally statt. Das ist ein interessanter Zufall, denn Toscanini war von dieser Oper so angetan, dass er seine ersten beiden Kinder nach zwei ihrer Partien nannte – Walter und Wally. Für Gustav Mahler war La Wally überhaupt „die beste italienische Oper“.

Dirk Kaftan am Pult des Grazer Philharmonischen Orchesters und Gal James als grandiose Desdemona trotzten szenischer Spannungslosigkeit und sorgten für eine hörenswerte Vorstellung.

Der Inszenierung fehlte es an Spannung, doch die musikalische Umsetzung unter der Leitung von Antonio Fogliani war packend für zwei.