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Niamh O'Sullivan (Octavian), Matilda Sterby (the Marschallin) and Andreas Bauer Kanabas (Baron Ochs) © Julian Guidera

High Wycombe

Viennese splendour in Garsington Opera’s Rosenkavalier revival

By Roy Westbrook, 28 May 2026

Bruno Ravella's splendid 2021 production of Strauss' opera of Viennese manners returns with a fine cast.

****1

****1

High Wycombe

28 May 2026

Viennese splendour in Garsington’s Rosenkavalier revival

By Roy Westbrook

Anna Netrebko (Abigaille) © Brescia e Amisano | Teatro alla Scala

Milan

Anna Netrebko gatecrashes Riccardo Chailly’s triumphant La Scala farewell

By Laura Servidei, 16 May 2026

Riccardo Chailly’s final new production as artistic director is a celebration of Verdi and of a conductor whose relationship with the Milanese audience has clearly deepened over the years.

*****

*****

Milan

16 May 2026

Anna Netrebko gatecrashes Riccardo Chailly’s La Scala farewell

By Laura Servidei

Sasha Cooke (Carmen) and Christian Pursell (Escamillo) © Sunny Martini

Seattle

Sasha Cooke brings sharp intelligence to Seattle Opera’s Caribbean-tinged Carmen

By Thomas May, 08 May 2026

Sasha Cooke’s thoughtful role debut anchors Paul Curran’s visually and musically alert but dramatically uneven production.

****1

****1

Seattle

08 May 2026

Sasha Cooke brings sharp intelligence to Seattle Opera’s Carmen

By Thomas May

Paola Leoci (Fannì), Ramiro Maturana (Norton), Jack Swanson (Edoardo Milfort) © Amati Bacciardi

Pesaro

Rossini Opera Festival’s clever pairing of first and last laughs

By Laura Servidei, 11 August 2025

Rossini’s first staged opera, La cambiale di matrimonio, in a spirited production by Laurence Dale, paired with his late work Les soirées musicales in a successful performance.

****1

****1

Pesaro

11 Aug 2025

Rossini Opera Festival’s clever pairing of first and last laughs

By Laura Servidei

Robert Murray (Florestan) © Julian Guidera

High Wycombe

A compelling harmony of stage and pit in a radically trad Fidelio at Garsington

By Peter Quantrill, 27 June 2025

Simple solutions prove the best in Beethoven's "problem" opera as John Cox's staging is revived at Garsington.

****1

****1

High Wycombe

27 Jun 2025

A radically trad Fidelio at Garsington

By Peter Quantrill

Myra Dubois (Frosch, centre stage) © Richard Hubert Smith

Alresford

Cabaret meets Gilbert and Sullivan: Die Fledermaus at The Grange

By David Karlin, 20 June 2025

A fine singing cast gives creditable performances in Johann Stauss II's most famous operetta, but Paul Curran's updating of Act 2 to 1930s Berlin takes the fizz out of the Champagne.

***11

***11

Alresford

20 Jun 2025

Die Fledermaus at The Grange: Cabaret meets G&S

By David Karlin

Cecilia Molinari (Abenamet) © Gianfranco Rota

Bergamo

Cecilia Molinari impresses in a modern makeover for Donizetti’s Zoraida di Granata

By Mark Pullinger, 16 November 2024

Bruno Ravella's effective production was seen in Wexford in its original 1822 version, but Donizetti Opera opts for the composer's 1824 revision, throwing the spotlight onto Cecilia Molinari's excellent Abenamet.

***11

***11

Bergamo

16 Nov 2024

A modern makeover for Donizetti’s Zoraida di Granata

By Mark Pullinger

Glyndebourne

Merriment aplenty in Cal McCrystal's Merry Widow at Glyndebourne

By Dominic Lowe, 09 June 2024

Glyndebourne's new production of Lehár's greatest work is interpreted with his customary flair and fun by Cal McCrystal.

****1

****1

Glyndebourne

09 Jun 2024

Merriment aplenty in Cal McCrystal's Merry Widow at Glyndebourne

By Dominic Lowe

Claudia Boyle (Zoraida) © Clive Barda | ArenaPAL

Wexford

A triumphant Zoraida di Granata by Donizetti at Wexford Festival Opera

By Andrew Larkin, 27 October 2023

A terrific cast of principal singers lead by soprano Claudia Boyle, coupled with compelling direction from Bruno Ravella make for an exhilarating operatic experience in Donizetti's Zoraida de Granata.

****1

****1

Wexford

27 Oct 2023

A triumphant Zoraida di Granata by Donizetti at Wexford

By Andrew Larkin

Quinn Kelsey (Simon Boccanegra) © Steven Pisano

Philadelphia

Quinn Kelsey triumphs in Opera Philadelphia's Simon Boccanegra

By Cameron Kelsall, 22 September 2023

In his role debut as the Genoan Doge, the American baritone continues to burnish his bona fides as the premier Verdi baritone of his generation.

****1

****1

Philadelphia

22 Sep 2023

Quinn Kelsey triumphs in Opera Philadelphia's Simon Boccanegra

By Cameron Kelsall

Eduard Martynyuk (Herman) and Anush Hovhannisyan (Liza) © Craig Fuller

Alresford

Obsession at The Grange: powerful singing and gothic drama in The Queen of Spades

By David Karlin, 23 June 2023

In a setting that might be The Grange itself, a production which steadily tightens its grip until a blistering finish.

*****

*****

Alresford

23 Jun 2023

Obsession at The Grange: The Queen of Spades

By David Karlin

Venice

Full fathom five: Peter Grimes receives its first ever staging at La Fenice

By Elena Luporini, 24 June 2022

Finally reaching the stage of the Venetian theatre, Benjamin Britten's first major opera meets with success thanks to Juraj Valčuha's conducting, Paul Curran's staging and an excellent cast.

*****

*****

Venice

24 Jun 2022

Full fathom five: Peter Grimes at La Fenice

By Elena Luporini

Dublin

Irish National Opera's entertaining Carmen is a hit in Dublin

By Andrew Larkin, 07 March 2022

Paul Curran's production of Carmen is entertaining and slick, with Paula Murrihy as a feisty heroine.

***11

***11

Dublin

07 Mar 2022

Irish National Opera's entertaining Carmen is a hit in Dublin

By Andrew Larkin

High Wycombe

Spectacle and opulence in Garsington's richly rewarding Rosenkavalier

By Stephen Pritchard, 06 June 2021

Outstanding singing from a beautifully chosen cast led by Miah Persson and Hanna Hipp.

****1

****1

High Wycombe

06 Jun 2021

Spectacle and opulence in a richly rewarding Rosenkavalier

By Stephen Pritchard

Liège

Gregory Kunde is splendid in Liege’s new Don Carlos

By Ako Imamura, 05 February 2020

The Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège takes a risk in mounting a new, but traditional production of the more rarely heard French version of Verdi’s Don Carlos and succeeds with a great ensemble of singers.

****1

****1

Liège

05 Feb 2020

Gregory Kunde is splendid in Liege’s new Don Carlos

By Ako Imamura

Vienna

Defiant Domingo's Macbeth wins them over at the Staatsoper

By Stephen Pritchard, 28 October 2019

At 78, Domingo rages against the ravages of time, and – certainly in this production – shows the next generation a thing or two about stagecraft.

***11

***11

Vienna

28 Oct 2019

Defiant Domingo's Macbeth wins them over at the Staatsoper

By Stephen Pritchard

Seattle

Ginger Costa-Jackson's sultry Carmen: the ultimate good-time girl in Seattle

By Philippa Kiraly, 04 May 2019

Good-time girl, hometown sweetheart, torn-apart lover, smugglers and rivals, familiar songs, a cliffhanger of a tale.

*****

*****

Seattle

04 May 2019

Costa-Jackson's sultry Carmen in Seattle

By Philippa Kiraly

Lausanne

Over the top and splendid: a “Zeffirellian” Anna Bolena in Lausanne

By Laura Servidei, 03 February 2019

Donizetti’s masterpiece finally debuts in Lausanne, with a traditional, luxurious production and a solid cast of young singers.

***11

***11

Lausanne

03 Feb 2019

A “Zeffirellian” Anna Bolena in Lausanne

By Laura Servidei

Philadelphia

Billboards, red dresses and a green balloon: Carmen in Philadelphia

By Hilary Stroh, 27 April 2018

Paul Curran's movie-Like Carmen for Opera Philadelphia

****1

****1

Philadelphia

27 Apr 2018

Red dresses and a green balloon: Carmen in Philadelphia

By Hilary Stroh

Santa Fe

The Golden Cockerel soars in Santa Fe

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz, 19 July 2017

Santa Fe Opera's colorful and beautifully sung The Golden Cockerel makes a case for more Rimsky-Korsakov opera in the repertoire.

****1

****1

Santa Fe

19 Jul 2017

The Golden Cockerel soars in Santa Fe

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz

Wexford

Exhilarating Maria de Rudenz at Wexford Festival Opera

By Andrew Larkin, 28 October 2016

A tour de force performance of Donizetti's infrequently heard Maria de Rudenz at Wexford Festival Opera. Gilda Fiume shines brightly as the eponymous heroine amidst a stellar cast. A must see.

*****

*****

Wexford

28 Oct 2016

Exhilarating Maria de Rudenz at Wexford Festival Opera

By Andrew Larkin

Amsterdam

Ariadne’s centennial: a feast at Nederlandse Reisopera

By Nicolas Nguyen, 06 October 2016

The Nederlandse Reisopera celebrates Ariadne auf Naxos’centennial with a superb new production directed by Laurence Dale which looks as laving as it is pleasing to the ear.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

06 Oct 2016

Ariadne’s centennial: a feast at Nederlandse Reisopera

By Nicolas Nguyen

Snape

Starting as you mean to go on: Britten's Les Illuminations at Aldeburgh Festival

By Charlotte Valori, 10 June 2016

An evening of exceptional originality and daring in Snape Maltings – not to mention glorious music – got the Aldeburgh Festival off to a striking start for the 2016 season.

*****

*****

Snape

10 Jun 2016

Britten's Les Illuminations at Aldeburgh Festival

By Charlotte Valori

Vienna

Christian Räth's Macbeth enjoys a bloody première at the Vienna Staatsoper

By Chanda VanderHart, 07 October 2015

Bravo to the Haus am Ring for a bloody good night of music, drama and beauty – an excellent first première of the season.

****1

****1

Vienna

07 Oct 2015

Räth's Macbeth enjoys a bloody première in Vienna

By Chanda VanderHart

Rotterdam

Bold music-making in Nederlandse Reisopera’s austere Madama Butterfly

By Jenny Camilleri, 19 September 2015

Annemarie Kremer is a strong-willed, dramatically voiced Butterfly in Laurence Dale’s sensitive production.

***11

***11

Rotterdam

19 Sep 2015

Bold music-making in Reisopera’s austere Butterfly

By Jenny Camilleri

Liège

George Petean royal dans Simon Boccanegra à Liège

By Irma Foletti, 17 June 2022

Le baryton apporte une noblesse rare au rôle-titre de l'opéra de Verdi, présenté en conclusion de la saison lyrique à l'Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège.

****1

****1

Liège

17 Jun 2022

George Petean royal dans Simon Boccanegra à Liège

By Irma Foletti

Liège

Eugène Onéguine à Liège : du romantisme à la révolution

By Patrice Lieberman, 28 October 2021

De retour à l'Opéra Royal de Wallonie pour la première fois depuis 1994, le chef-d'œuvre de Tchaïkovski repose sur une mise en scène sage, que compense une interprétation musicale engagée.

****1

****1

Liège

28 Oct 2021

Eugène Onéguine à Liège : du romantisme à la révolution

By Patrice Lieberman

Liège

Don Carlos à Liège : la tradition a parfois du bon

By Patrice Lieberman, 02 February 2020

À l'Opéra Royal de Wallonie, la production de la version française de l'œuvre cherche avant tout la fidélité au spectacle original. Triomphe pour Lionel Lhote, formidable dans le rôle du marquis de Posa.

****1

****1

Liège

02 Feb 2020

Don Carlos à Liège : la tradition a parfois du bon

By Patrice Lieberman

Vienna

Da capo für die Macbeth-Premierenbesetzung an der Wiener Staatsoper

By Snapdragon, 08 May 2019

Tatiana Serjan sticht in einer ansonst soliden Macbeth-Inszenierug von Christian Räth hervor.

***11

***11

Vienna

08 May 2019

Da capo für die Macbeth-Premierenbesetzung in Wien

By Snapdragon

Vienna

Max und die schrägen Vögel: Der Freischütz an der Wiener Staatsoper

By Snapdragon, 11 June 2018

Christian Räth präsentiert eine enttäuschende Inszenierung von Webers romantischer Oper voller übertriebener Klischees.

**111

**111

Vienna

11 Jun 2018

Max und die schrägen Vögel: Der Freischütz an der Wiener Staatsoper

By Snapdragon