Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Rome

The Swiss conductor returns to the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, presenting a triptych of pieces by Schumann, Debussy and Zemlinsky inspired by the season of renewal.

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Rome

10 Feb 2025

Lorenzo Viotti conducts the death and rebirth of Spring in music

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

Tosca at the Costanzi: a postcard from Rome

By Pia Maltri, 14 January 2025

A historical staging with well sung arias doesn't really bring Puccini's opera alive as Rome marks its 125th anniversary.

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Rome

16 Jan 2025

Tosca at the Costanzi: a postcard from Rome

By Pia Maltri

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Rome

A rare outing for Handel's Rodelinda in Rome

By Pia Maltri, 22 November 2024

La Lira di Orfeo and Raffaele Pe bring Handel's opera in a concert performance to the Parco della Musica.

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Rome

25 Nov 2024

A rare outing for Handel's Rodelinda in Rome

By Pia Maltri

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Rome

Kirill Gerstein the master of the cadenza in Mozart with the Santa Cecilia

By Alissa Balocco, 25 January 2024

The pianist enchants the audience with Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 20 in D minor, conducted by Leonidas Kavakos.

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Rome

27 Jan 2024

Kirill Gerstein: a Mozartian master with the Santa Cecilia

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

Antonio Pappano and Igor Levit take the Santa Cecilia on an incredible symphonic journey

By Alissa Balocco, 02 November 2023

Levit offers impeccable Beethoven, while Pappano enchants the Rome audience with Cherubini and Sibelius.

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Rome

04 Nov 2023

Pappano and Levit take the Santa Cecilia on an incredible journey

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

Let’s dance! Kantorow's Tchaikovsky and Rhorer's Saint-Saëns enchant Rome

By Alissa Balocco, 08 June 2023

French pianist Alexandre Kantorow and conductor Jérémie Rhorer make successful debuts with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

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Rome

10 Jun 2023

Let’s dance! Kantorow's Tchaikovsky enchants Rome

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

Warlikowski’s kinetic prison: Janáček's From the House of the Dead in Rome

By Alissa Balocco, 23 May 2023

The Polish director comes to Italy for the first time to direct Janáček's last opera, with the young Belarusian Dmitry Matvienko conducting.

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Rome

25 May 2023

Warlikowski’s prison: From the House of the Dead in Rome

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

From Tchaikovsky to Weinberg with Gabriela Montero and Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla in Rome

By Alissa Balocco, 11 May 2023

The pianist enchants with her Tchaikovsky, while the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia tackles an unfamiliar Weinberg symphony.

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Rome

13 May 2023

From Tchaikovsky to Weinberg with Montero and Gražinytė-Tyla

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

Puccini and Bartók nightmares at the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome

By Alissa Balocco, 06 April 2023

Michele Mariotti and Johannes Erath lead us into the caverns of Il tabarro and Bluebeard’s Castle with two stories of violence against women

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Rome

07 Apr 2023

Puccini and Bartók nightmares at the Teatro dell’Opera in Rome

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

Reaching for the light: Arvo Pärt and Robert Wilson's Adam's Passion

By Alissa Balocco, 31 March 2023

For the first time in Italy the opera that brings together the spiritual music of the Estonian composer and the minimalist direction of Robert Wilson.

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Rome

02 Apr 2023

Reaching for the light: Arvo Pärt and Robert Wilson's Adam's Passion

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

A voyage into celestial spheres with Thomas Adès and the Santa Cecilia

By Alissa Balocco, 16 March 2023

Thomas Adès takes the audience in Rome into paradise, or the ascension into Dante's heavens, as his Paradiso makes its first appearance in Italy in a programme dedicated to the celestial world.

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Rome

18 Mar 2023

A voyage into celestial spheres with Thomas Adès and the Santa Cecilia

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

Pablo Heras-Casado: between the avant-garde and neoclassicism in Rome

By Alissa Balocco, 09 March 2023

The conductor directs the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia and Theatres of Voices in contrasting symphonies by Berio and Stravinsky.

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Rome

11 Mar 2023

Pablo Heras-Casado: between the avant-garde and neoclassicism in Rome

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

Evgeny Kissin displays a glowing touch at the Santa Cecilia, Rome

By Alissa Balocco, 22 February 2023

The Russian pianist returns to the stage of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia with a very unusual programme, from a Bach fantasia to Rachmaninov's romances.

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Rome

24 Feb 2023

Evgeny Kissin displays a glowing touch at the Santa Cecilia, Rome

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

Davide Livermore’s new Aida proves an incredible cinematic experience in Rome

By Alissa Balocco, 31 January 2023

In staging Verdi's triumphant masterpiece, the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma pays homage to silent films, turning Ancient Egypt into the underworld.

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Rome

02 Feb 2023

Livermore’s new Aida: an incredible cinematic experience in Rome

By Alissa Balocco

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Rome

A weighty hymn of praise at the Santa Cecilia

By Mark Pullinger, 26 November 2022

Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha is the pick of the soloists in a weighty reading of Mendelssohn's Lobgesang under Kazuki Yamada. But can Schubert's Fifth withstand the same approach?

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Rome

26 Nov 2022

A weighty hymn of praise at the Santa Cecilia

By Mark Pullinger

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Rome

News from home: Jakub Hrůša conducts Dvořák and Janáček in Rome

By Elena Luporini, 11 June 2022

Santa Cecilia's newly-appointed Principal Guest Conductor Jakub Hrůša leads an all-Czech concert, promising a bright future in Rome.

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Rome

13 Jun 2022

News from home: Jakub Hrůša conducts Dvořák and Janáček in Rome

By Elena Luporini

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Rome

The Fifth! Jaap van Zweden makes Santa Cecilia debut with Shostakovich and Beethoven

By Elena Luporini, 28 May 2022

The Dutch conductor makes his debut at Santa Cecilia with a popular, fully symphonic programme.

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Rome

30 May 2022

The Fifth! Jaap van Zweden makes Santa Cecilia debut

By Elena Luporini

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Rome

Martínez' Le Corsaire: a 21st-century ballet with a Romantic French flavour

By Silvia Poletti, 10 May 2022

Back on stage after stopping for the lockdown, Le Corsaire by José Carlos Martinez for Rome Opera Ballet creates a narrative ballet for our time, with an ancient flavour but a contemporary attack.

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Rome

12 May 2022

Romantic French flavour in Martinez' Le Corsaire

By Silvia Poletti

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Rome

Love is merely a madness: I puritani in Rome

By Elena Luporini, 19 April 2022

A new, musically convincing production of Bellini's last opera marks a welcome return to the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, but Andrea De Rosa's staging lacks inspiration.

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Rome

21 Apr 2022

Love is merely a madness: I puritani in Rome

By Elena Luporini

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Rome

Ai Weiwei's Turandot an enjoyable, gigantic funfair at Opera di Roma

By Lorenzo Fiorito, 27 March 2022

The controversial artist stages his first opera in Rome, with strong musical performances under dynamic Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv.

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Rome

29 Mar 2022

Ai Weiwei's Turandot an enjoyable, gigantic funfair at Opera di Roma

By Lorenzo Fiorito

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Rome

Underwhelming Mozart and Bruckner in Rome

By Elena Luporini, 17 March 2022

Some last-minute changes in the programme undermine the success of a promising evening at Santa Cecilia.

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Rome

18 Mar 2022

Underwhelming Mozart and Bruckner in Rome

By Elena Luporini

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Rome

The stillness of a volcano: Nikolai Lugansky in Rome recital

By Elena Luporini, 16 March 2022

Challenged with a demanding programme of Beethoven, Franck and Rachmaninov, the Russian pianist gave proof of his personal, telluric approach to intense repertoire.

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Rome

17 Mar 2022

The stillness of a volcano: Nikolai Lugansky in Rome recital

By Elena Luporini

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Rome

Kátya Kabanová flies to Rome for the first time

By Lorenzo Fiorito, 23 January 2022

Richard Jones' setting is superb in its bare minimalism, but he pays great attention to all the psychological nuances in Janáček's opera.

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Rome

25 Jan 2022

Kátya Kabanová flies to Rome for the first time

By Lorenzo Fiorito

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Rome

A Wondrous Creation: Sir John Eliot Gardiner leads Haydn in Rome

By Elena Luporini, 13 January 2022

Gardiner's vivacious conducting of the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia made this performance one to remember.

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Rome

16 Jan 2022

A Wondrous Creation: Sir John Eliot Gardiner leads Haydn in Rome

By Elena Luporini

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Rome

Pappano's sizzling Sibelius provides the highlight at the Santa Cecilia

By Elena Luporini, 25 November 2021

After a bumpy first half, Pappano turns the evening into a memorable one by delivering an outstanding rendition of the Finn's First Symphony.

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Rome

26 Nov 2021

Sizzling Sibelius provides the highlight at the Santa Cecilia

By Elena Luporini

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Rome

Lend me your ears: world premiere of Giorgio Battistelli's Julius Caesar charms Rome

By Elena Luporini, 23 November 2021

The Teatro dell'Opera opens its season with the world premiere of Giorgio Battistelli and Ian Burton's new Shakespearean work, under the baton of Daniele Gatti and the direction of Robert Carsen.

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Rome

25 Nov 2021

Lend me your ears: Battistelli's Julius Caesar charms Rome

By Elena Luporini

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Rome

Angels and demons: Giovanna d'Arco marks the reopening of Rome's Teatro Costanzi

By Elena Luporini, 17 October 2021

After a fifty-year absence from Roman stages, Verdi's opera about the Maid of Orléans makes an appearance at Teatro dell'Opera under the conduction of Daniele Gatti.

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Rome

18 Oct 2021

Angels and demons: Giovanna d'Arco marks a Rome reopening

By Elena Luporini

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Rome

Oceans of water and virtuosity at Rome's Auditorium Parco della Musica

By Elena Luporini, 13 October 2021

Kirill Petrenko's remarkable artistry and Boris Giltburg's vibrant piano-playing are the highlights of the Santa Cecilia's performance.

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Rome

15 Oct 2021

Oceans of water and virtuosity at Rome's Auditorium Parco della Musica

By Elena Luporini

Rome

Music and architecture: a Stravinsky homage at Rome’s MAXXI

By Edward Sava-Segal, 19 March 2021

A performance meant to celebrate Stravinsky’s heritage proposed several works brimming with energy and wit that should be present in the concert life not only during anniversary seasons.

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Rome

20 Mar 2021

Music and architecture: a Stravinsky homage at Rome’s MAXXI

By Edward Sava-Segal

Rome

Pandora unveiled: an arresting new creation by Simone Valastro in Rome

By Graham Watts, 29 January 2021

A marriage of Greek Mythology and American minimalism in Simone Valastro's new creation for the Ballo del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma.

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Rome

29 Jan 2021

Pandora unveiled: an arresting new creation in Rome

By Graham Watts

Rome

Ballet dances on in Rome with two new Baroque-inspired creations

By Jenifer Sarver, 16 January 2021

New works by Michele Merola, Benjamin Pech and Eleonora Abbagnato at La Nuvola as the Ballo del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma dances on.

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Rome

17 Jan 2021

Ballet dances on in Rome with two new Baroque-inspired creations

By Jenifer Sarver

Rome

In Rome, Daniele Gatti explores music inspired by nature

By Edward Sava-Segal, 15 January 2021

After their "military" theme last week, Daniele Gatti and Markus Werba turned towards nature for their second programme with the Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia.

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Rome

16 Jan 2021

In Rome, Daniele Gatti explores music inspired by nature

By Edward Sava-Segal

Rome

An ironic critique of war from Werba and Gatti in Rome

By Linda Holt, 08 January 2021

Baritone Markus Werba shines in six military songs from Mahler's Des Knaben Wunderhorn.

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Rome

09 Jan 2021

An ironic critique of war from Werba and Gatti in Rome

By Linda Holt

Rome

Embracing the unfinished: a compelling Zaide in Rome

By Elena Luporini, 18 October 2020

Graham Vick's new staging of Mozart's unfinished Singspiel marks a welcome, exciting reopening of Teatro Costanzi after the Covid-19 shutdown.

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Rome

20 Oct 2020

Embracing the unfinished: a compelling Zaide in Rome

By Elena Luporini

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Rome

Verdi's Vêpres siciliennes opens the operatic season in Rome

By Renato Verga, 10 December 2019

Living in an environment influenced by French culture, Verdi saw the chance of breathing new life into the Italian opera through the grand-opéra. Les Vêpres siciliennes is his successful attempt.

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Rome

11 Dec 2019

Verdi's Vêpres siciliennes opens the operatic season in Rome

By Renato Verga

Rome

Emma Dante's demonic obsessions in Prokofiev's The Fiery Angel in Rome

By Renato Verga, 23 May 2019

In Emma Dante's staging we are viewing an allegory of death as painted in the medieval frescoes of Italian cemeteries.

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Rome

25 May 2019

Demonic obsessions in Prokofiev's The Fiery Angel in Rome

By Renato Verga

Rome

A minimalist reading of Orfeo ed Euridice in Rome

By Pia Maltri, 15 March 2019

Robert Carsen's minimalist modern reading of Gluck's masterpiece is a pure distillation of opera (and life) and the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma.

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Rome

17 Mar 2019

A minimalist reading of Orfeo ed Euridice in Rome

By Pia Maltri

Rome

Cullberg Ballet's Protagonist in Rome: a mixed bag of intrigue and cliché

By Alessandra Tribotti, 26 February 2019

The prestigious swedish company takes the Equilibrio Festival of nordic performing arts to an interesting close, making its italian comeback with an introspective work by Jefta Van Dinther.

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Rome

18 Mar 2019

Cullberg Ballet's Protagonist: a mixed bag of intrigue and cliché

By Alessandra Tribotti

Rome

A great cast for Anna Bolena at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma

By Laura Servidei, 24 February 2019

Riccardo Frizza conducts a complete version of Donizetti’s masterpiece, with the debuts of Maria Agresta in the title role, Carmela Remigio as Giovanna Seymour and René Barbera as Percy.

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Rome

26 Feb 2019

A great cast for Anna Bolena in Rome

By Laura Servidei

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Rome

An elephant in the room: Graham Vick's new Figaro opens in Rome

By Renato Verga, 03 November 2018

Graham Vick stages his Marriage of Figaro in todays vulgarity, but he is not fully convincing.

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Rome

04 Nov 2018

An elephant in the room: Graham Vick's new Figaro opens in Rome

By Renato Verga

Rome

Time-travelling back to 1900: an eye-popping Tosca in Rome

By Mark Pullinger, 07 April 2018

Alessandro Talevi's gorgeous staging recreates Tosca as it might have been seen at its 1900 première.

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Rome

08 Apr 2018

An eye-popping Tosca in Rome

By Mark Pullinger

Rome

Opera as circus: a controversial Cav & Pag double bill in Rome

By Mark Pullinger, 05 April 2018

Pippo Delbono, an advocate of experimental theatre, tests the audience's patience at Opera di Roma, masking some enjoyable musical performances.

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Rome

06 Apr 2018

Opera as circus: a controversial Cav & Pag in Rome

By Mark Pullinger

Rome

Dark humour: Michieletto and Gatti provide an adventurous La Damnation de Faust

By James Imam, 14 December 2017

Michieletto's production for the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome is fresh, intelligent and destined to go down as one of his best.

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Rome

15 Dec 2017

An adventurous La Damnation de Faust in Rome

By James Imam

Rome

Comedy and drama in Auber's Fra Diavolo: a balance well obtained at Opera di Roma

By Renato Verga, 13 October 2017

The Mediterranean setting of Auber's work is recreated by director Giorgio Barberio Corsetti with its intriguing teatro-immagine, where video projections and virtual reality are predominant.

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Rome

15 Oct 2017

Comedy and drama in Auber's Fra Diavolo: a balance well obtained at Opera di Roma

By Renato Verga

Rome

Grace and delirium: Michieletto's Il viaggio a Reims lands in Rome

By James Imam, 14 June 2017

Lord Sidney's contemplation of the insanity of the world seems to be the impetus for this delirious production. So endless is its stream of gags that to attend this show is to be left feeling exhausted.

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Rome

16 Jun 2017

Grace and delirium: Michieletto's Viaggio lands in Rome

By James Imam