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

Showing 32 of 32 reviews

Read reviews in other languages: Deutsch, Español, Français

Sonya Yoncheva (Medea) © Met Opera | Marty Sohl

Sonya Yoncheva electrifies the Met Opera’s revival of Medea

By Susan Stempleski, 30 October 2026

Four years after the Met’s first-ever staging of Cherubini’s rarely performed take on Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy, the opera returns with the Bulgarian soprano conquering the notoriously difficult title role.

****1

****1

New York City

30 Oct 2026

Sonya Yoncheva electrifies the Met Opera’s revival of Medea

By Susan Stempleski

Epidaurus

Facing the ghost of Maria Callas: Greek National Opera’s Medea at Epidaurus

By Anna Bogdanova, 20 June 2026

To rebuild Maria Callas’s 1961 Medea is to invite the cruellest comparisons in opera. For most of a single night at Epidaurus, Greek National Opera withstands it, but then comes the final act...

****1

****1

Epidaurus

20 Jun 2026

The ghost of Maria Callas: Greek National Opera’s Medea at Epidaurus

By Anna Bogdanova

Sondra Radvanovsky (Medea) © Luciano Romano

Naples

Cherubini’s Medea in Naples: a clash of worlds in a neoclassical framework

By Lorenzo Fiorito, 10 December 2025

A new Medea at the Teatro di San Carlo presents three distinct visions – neoclassical in the pit, expressionistic on stage and conceptual in the direction – that never fully merge.

***11

***11

Naples

10 Dec 2025

San Carlo’s Medea a clash of worlds in a neoclassical framework

By Lorenzo Fiorito

Arnheiður Eiríksdóttir (Neris) and Svetlana Aksenova (Medea) © Petr Neubert

Prague

Cherubini’s Medea falls flat in Prague

By Frank Kuznik, 22 February 2025

The challenges of Cherubini’s version of the Greek tragedy prove too much for the National Theatre to overcome.

**111

**111

Prague

22 Feb 2025

Cherubini’s Medea falls flat in Prague

By Frank Kuznik

Sondra Radvanovsky (Medea) © Marty Sohl | Met Opera (2022)

Toronto

Sondra Radvanovsky triumphs in Canadian Opera Company's darkly grand Medea

By Gianmarco Segato, 3 May 2024

In the title role of Canadian Opera Company's Medea, soprano Sondra Radvanovsky offers the vocal and dramatic goods required by this flawed masterpiece.

****1

****1

Toronto

3 May 2024

Sondra Radvanovsky triumphs in COC's darkly grand Medea

By Gianmarco Segato

Marina Rebeka (Médée) © Teatro alla Scala | Brescia e Amisano

Milan

Dispelling the ghosts of Medea at La Scala

By Laura Servidei, 14 January 2024

Cherubini’s Médée arrives at La Scala, in French, with a modern, interesting production by Damiano Michieletto, authoritatively conducted by Michele Gamba.

****1

****1

Milan

14 Jan 2024

Dispelling the ghosts of Medea at La Scala

By Laura Servidei

Igor Levit and Sir Antonio Pappano © Musacchio, Ianniello & Pasqualini

Rome

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

By Alissa Balocco, 2 November 2023

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

****1

****1

Rome

2 Nov 2023

Pappano and Levit take the Santa Cecilia on an incredible journey

By Alissa Balocco

Anna Pirozzi (Medea) © GNO | Andreas Simopoulos

Athens

Inheriting Callas’ crown in Athens: Pirozzi takes on Medea… and wins

By Mark Pullinger, 25 April 2023

The punishing role of Medea is forever associated with Maria Callas. To celebrate the diva’s centenary, Greek National Opera presents a new production by Sir David McVicar, starring Italian soprano Anna Pirozzi.

****1

****1

Athens

25 Apr 2023

Inheriting Callas’ crown in Athens: Pirozzi takes on Medea

By Mark Pullinger

New York City

Radvanovsky triumphs as Cherubini's Medea opens the Met Opera season

By Robert Levine, 27 September 2022

Sir David McVicar's new production opens the Met season with house's first ever staging of Cherubini's Medea.

*****

*****

New York City

27 Sept 2022

Radvanovsky triumphs as Cherubini's Medea opens the Met Opera season

By Robert Levine

Amsterdam

Brownlee and Spyres at the Concertgebouw: so much more than vocal jousting

By Jenny Camilleri, 31 October 2018

Top tenors Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres dared to duel at the Concertgebouw. Both emerged victorious, and not just because of the volley of sensational top notes.

****1

****1

Amsterdam

31 Oct 2018

Brownlee and Spyres: so much more than vocal jousting

By Jenny Camilleri

Berlin

Smoke without fire: Cherubini's Medée fails to ignite at the Staatsoper

By Hugo Shirley, 7 October 2018

Fine musical performances meet Andrea Breth's dreary new production in a dramatically unsatisfying evening at the Staatsoper.

***11

***11

Berlin

7 Oct 2018

Smoke without fire: Medée fails to ignite

By Hugo Shirley

Milan

Cherubini's Ali Baba finally returns to La Scala in an Academy staging

By Renato Verga, 1 September 2018

A conventional plot retains few of the elements of its Arabian Nights original, but the Academy's young pupils display vocal mastery in Milan.

Milan

1 Sept 2018

Cherubini's Ali Baba finally returns to La Scala

By Renato Verga

Stuttgart

In Konwitschny's modern Medea, monsters are made by men

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz, 27 December 2017

Director Peter Konwitschny's staging of Cherubini's Medea critiques rejection and mistreatment of refugees. A strong new German translation and a talented cast make this a must-see.

****1

****1

Stuttgart

27 Dec 2017

In Konwitschny's modern Medea, monsters are made by men

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz

Wexford

Lise Davidsen utterly captivating as Medea at Wexford Festival

By Andrew Larkin, 19 October 2017

A fascinating modern production of Cherubini's masterpiece Medea. Lise Davidsen is especially noteworthy while the rest of the cast give luminous performances.

****1

****1

Wexford

19 Oct 2017

Lise Davidsen utterly captivating as Medea at Wexford Festival

By Andrew Larkin

London

Explosive London recital debut from Lise Davidsen at the Wigmore Hall

By Dominic Lowe, 9 May 2017

A voice with the proportions of a cathedral; a higher register that's entirely secure; an attention to text. Rosenblatt Recitals gave a tantalising preview of a singer who will have a stellar career.

****1

****1

London

9 May 2017

Explosive London recital debut from Lise Davidsen

By Dominic Lowe

Milan

“Vive la France!”: Gallic pride from La Verdi, Milan

By James Imam, 9 July 2015

La Verdi dispatched each of the works with panaché under audience favourite Oleg Caetani. There is plenty of swagger to their playing at present – a Gallic cock with plenty of feathers in its tail.

****1

****1

Milan

9 Jul 2015

“Vive la France!”: Gallic pride from La Verdi, Milan

By James Imam

Prague

Classical heroines in distress: reviewer in heaven

By Frank Kuznik, 31 May 2014

Prague’s classical music community is walking a little taller and prouder this week. Collegium 1704 stepped up on Saturday night with an 18th century opera program that offered an inspirational reminder of how period music can and should be played.

*****

*****

Prague

31 May 2014

Classical heroines in distress: reviewer in heaven

By Frank Kuznik

Sydney

Harrell excels in Shostakovich in Sydney

By Zoltán Szabó, 12 April 2014

The Sydney Symphony Orchestra presented a versatile and truly international menu to its audience last week in a thrice-programmed concert titled “Heavenly Schubert” although it was Shostakovich who proved the strongest draw.

****1

****1

Sydney

12 Apr 2014

Harrell excels in Shostakovich in Sydney

By Zoltán Szabó

Dortmund

Mozart's Requiem renewed by Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs in Dortmund

By Ken Ward, 21 September 2013

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem is one the most performed of his works, famously unfinished at the time of his death, but completed at the demand of his widow (money was, as ever, in desperately short supply) by his pupil Franz Xaver Süβmayr.

****1

****1

Dortmund

21 Sept 2013

Mozart's Requiem renewed by Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs in Dortmund

By Ken Ward

Berkeley

Luisotti and SF Opera Orchestra in Concert

By Jeffery S. McMillan, 3 June 2012

Anticipation is running high for the kick off of San Francisco Opera’s summer season on Friday, June 8, 2012, with the local premiere of John Adams’s Nixon in China. As a sort of appetizer to the five-week season music director Nicola Luisotti and his players gave an orchestral concert on June 3 at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley.

***11

***11

Berkeley

3 Jun 2012

Luisotti and SF Opera Orchestra in Concert

By Jeffery S. McMillan

Brussels

Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques light up a powerful Médée

By David Karlin, 17 September 2011

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Scorned womanhood has no better archetype than Euripides's Medea. And you're unlikely to see a more powerful or affecting Medea than Nadja Michael's performance in Cherubini's opera Médée, in the first production of the new season at La Monnaie in Brussels (De Munt, if you're a Flemish speaker.)Like all good Greek tragedy, we all know the story.

*****

*****

Brussels

17 Sept 2011

Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques light up a powerful Médée

By David Karlin

Cooperstown

'Medea' at Glimmerglass a summer scorcher!

By Gale Martin, 6 August 2011

The opera is way too dark. It runs far too long. It’s requires a soprano with vocal cords of amalgamated steel to sing the title role. No wonder Cherubini’s Medea is rarely performed. According to OPERA America records, the opera hasn’t been performed in the United States in nearly 20 years.

*****

*****

Cooperstown

6 Aug 2011

'Medea' at Glimmerglass a summer scorcher!

By Gale Martin

Brussels

Konsequent und kontrastierend: Herreweghes Beethoven und Cherubini in Brüssel

By Jens Klier, 3 December 2025

Nun mit der Eroica, gepaart mit Cherubinis Requiem, liefert Herreweghe im Zyklus mit dem Orchestre des Champs-Élysées seinen bisher besten, weil entschieden dramatischeren Beethoven ab.

*****

*****

Brussels

3 Dec 2025

Herreweghes Beethoven und Cherubini: konsequent und kontrastierend

By Jens Klier

Berlin

Kein Abgleiten in Extreme: Philippe Herreweghe beim Musikfest Berlin

By Sebastian Urmoneit, 5 September 2025

Mit Beethovens Eroice und Cherubini zeigen das Orchestre des Champs-Élysées und Collegium Vocale Gent eindrucksvoll, dass es nicht immer die großen Effekte braucht.

****1

****1

Berlin

5 Sept 2025

Kein Abgleiten in Extreme: Philippe Herreweghe beim Musikfest Berlin

By Sebastian Urmoneit

© Martí E. Berenguer | Franz Schubert Filharmonia

Barcelona

Una ascensión lumínica en el Palau de la Música: el Réquiem de Fauré con Laurence Equilbey y la Franz Schubert Filharmonia

By Maria Sánchez, 17 November 2024

Esperada para la temporada 2024-25, la presencia de Laurence Equilbey fue acogida con entusiasmo por una dirección expansiva, emotiva y con una mirada hacia el cielo.

****1

****1

Barcelona

17 Nov 2024

Una ascensión lumínica con la Franz Schubert Filharmonia

By Maria Sánchez

Les Arts Florissants, William Christie et Sony Yoncheva à la Halle aux grains © Les Grands Interprètes

Toulouse

Sonya Yoncheva et William Christie dans leur bulle à la Halle aux grains

By Arnaud Saura-Ziegelmeyer, 5 November 2024

Les Arts Florissants et la soprano ont célébré le 80e anniversaire du chef avec une plongée à l'époque de Marie-Antoinette. Un concert de haute volée, mais quelque peu déconnecté de la salle.

***11

***11

Toulouse

5 Nov 2024

Sonya Yoncheva et William Christie dans leur bulle à Toulouse

By Arnaud Saura-Ziegelmeyer

Saioa Hernández (Medea), Valeria Grandio e Ismael Palacios (hijos de Medea) © Javier del Real | Teatro Real

Madrid

Médée: tragedia y espectáculo en el Teatro Real

By Leonardo Mattana Ereño, 23 September 2023

Un segundo reparto vocal digno, aunque no siempre cómodo, ofreció Médée en el Teatro Real en una producción arrriesgada en lo escénico con una orquesta y dirección muy esmerados y de muy buen sonido y empaste.

***11

***11

Madrid

23 Sept 2023

Médée: tragedia y espectáculo en el Teatro Real

By Leonardo Mattana Ereño

Escena de Médée en el Teatro Real © Javier del Real | Teatro Real

Madrid

El indulto de Medea: comienza la temporada del Teatro Real

By David Santana Cañas, 19 September 2023

El Teatro Real estrena la producción de Médée de Paco Azorín con el francés y los recitativos de Alan Curtis como novedad.

****1

****1

Madrid

19 Sept 2023

Estreno de temporada con Medea en el Teatro Real

By David Santana Cañas

Berlin

À la Staatsoper de Berlin, une Médée cousue de fil blanc

By Pierre Liscia-Beaurenaut, 12 February 2020

Dans cette production berlinoise décevante et faussement actuelle, seuls l'orchestre et la superstar Sonya Yoncheva parviennent à convaincre.

**111

**111

Berlin

12 Feb 2020

À la Staatsoper de Berlin, une Médée cousue de fil blanc

By Pierre Liscia-Beaurenaut

Salzburg

Antiker Mythos im Vorstadtweiber-Gewand: Médée in Salzburg

By Isabella Steppan, 4 August 2019

Bei den Salzburger Festspielen überfrachtet Regisseur Simon Stone Luigi Cherubinis Oper mit Regieeinfällen, die zwar schlüssig sind, aber zu oft von der Musik ablenken.

***11

***11

Salzburg

4 Aug 2019

Antiker Mythos im Vorstadtweiber-Gewand: Médée in Salzburg

By Isabella Steppan

Geneva

Médée au Grand Théâtre de Genève, entre humanité et mythe

By Thomas Muller, 9 April 2015

La Médée genevoise, entre le mythe et la femme outragée. Accourez voir le feu couver puis incendier le Grand Théâtre !

****1

****1

Geneva

9 Apr 2015

Medea, entre humanité et mythe

By Thomas Muller

London

Le Requiem et l’Inachevée au Barbican : une lecture (trop?) fidèle d’œuvres atemporelles

By Martin Arnaud, 8 October 2014

En ouverture de leur saison et préfigurant la célébration des 250 ans de Mozart, le Classical Opera, offrait au Barbican un concert de l’inachevé. Un programme monumental et une interprétation fidèle, pour un rendu presque trop soigné.

**111

**111

London

8 Oct 2014

Concert de l'inachevé au Barbican

By Martin Arnaud