Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | English | Xavier Sabata

Handel's 1707 allegorical Italian oratorio is brought to stunning life by a brilliant quartet of singers and the impeccable FestspielOrchester Göttigen under festival director George Petrou. 

Kate Lindsey’s voice is luminous, effortlessly regulated in every register, and intertwined magically with the gleaming soprano of Slávka Zámečníková, a very special new jewel in the Staatsoper ensemble who is every inch a star.

The biting wit of Vincenzo Grimani's libretto is well served by some knockout arias and excellent performances from a strong cast and the matchless Il pomo d'oro.

The Staatsoper's new L'incoronazione di Poppea is serious, intelligent but short on fire.

Ann Hallenberg shines in an amazing cast in a concert performance of Handel's Ottone in Vienna. 

A popular performance of Handel's oratorio Deborah, featuring Baroque opera singer Xavier Sabata and English soprano Rebecca Bottone, garners warm applause at the Halle Handel Festival.

Led by Pál Németh, the Savaria Baroque Orchestra, the Debrecen Kodály Choir and a fine ensemble of soloists gave a memorable performance of Händel's oratorio.

Intelligently staged and brilliantly sung, Scottish Opera can be justly proud of their new production of Ariodante. It is all about the oranges really.

Handel's Tartar-Ottoman drama Tamerlano gets a majestically beautiful, if not wildly dramatic, outing at the Barbican with Il Pomo d'Oro. 

Maxim Emelyanychev conducted the period orchestra Il Pomo d’Oro in Tamerlano at the Concertgebouw, an enjoyable performance of Handel's darkest opera. 

Handel's Tamerlano seduces the Versailles Opéra audience in a concert performance.

An excellent cast headed by Franco Fagioli makes this concert version of Rinaldo at the Theater an der Wien unforgettable; Il Pomo d'Oro shine in the pit.

Let’s be clear: this was a performance of the highest order. From the first five notes of the overture, the sixteen-member orchestra Armonia Aténéa led by George Petrou ravished the audience of the Salle Pleyel with Handel’s full splendour.