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

Unhurried suspense in a very English Parsifal

By Peter Quantrill, 17 May 2025

Compelling singers carry the day in the Glyndebourne Festival Opera's first staging of Wagner’s swansong.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Glyndebourne

19 May 2025

Unhurried suspense in a very English Parsifal

By Peter Quantrill

Loading image...

Milan

Cesti’s Orontea: an early rarity at La Scala

By Laura Servidei, 28 September 2024

Giovanni Antonini leads a splendid orchestral performance of Cesti’s masterpiece, featuring an outstanding cast headlined by Carlo Vistoli.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Milan

30 Sep 2024

Cesti’s Orontea: an early rarity at La Scala

By Laura Servidei

Loading image...

Edinburgh

Opéra-Comique's Carmen brings high musical qualities to Edinburgh

By Roy Westbrook, 08 August 2024

Andreas Homoki's meta-staging in Paris' Opéra-Comique cannot detract from strong musical performances at the Edinburgh Festival, led by Gaëlle Arquez as a near-perfect Carmen.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Edinburgh

09 Aug 2024

Opéra-Comique's Carmen brings high musical qualities to Edinburgh

By Roy Westbrook

Loading image...

Berlin

David Alden's Anna Bolena travels from Zurich to Berlin

By Laura Servidei, 15 December 2023

Deutsche Oper Berlin presents an uninspiring production by David Alden, with a solid cast led by Federica Lombardi.

***11

Loading image...

***11

Berlin

17 Dec 2023

David Alden's Anna Bolena travels from Zurich to Berlin

By Laura Servidei

Loading image...

Milan

Great Britten: Simone Young conducts a fine Peter Grimes at La Scala

By Laura Servidei, 27 October 2023

La Scala presents a new production of Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece, with an excellent cast led by tenor Brandon Jovanovich.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Milan

28 Oct 2023

Great Britten: a fine Peter Grimes at La Scala

By Laura Servidei

Loading image...

Prague

A raucous Rosenkavalier from Prague State Opera

By Frank Kuznik, 24 November 2022

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

****1

Loading image...

****1

Prague

26 Nov 2022

A raucous Rosenkavalier from Prague State Opera

By Frank Kuznik

Loading image...

A matter of faith and doubt: David Alden’s Lohengrin returns to Covent Garden

By David Karlin, 19 April 2022

A strong cast and a masterclass in Wagnerian conducting from Jakub Hrůša complement David Alden’s disturbing staging.

*****

Loading image...

*****

London

20 Apr 2022

A matter of faith and doubt: David Alden’s Lohengrin at the ROH

By David Karlin

Loading image...

Debutant cast impresses in Zurich's new Dialogues des Carmélites

By Laura Servidei, 13 February 2022

The Opernhaus presents Jetske Mijnssen's new production of Poulenc’s masterpiece, under the baton of Tito Ceccherini.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Zurich

15 Feb 2022

Debutant cast impresses in Zurich's new Dialogues des Carmélites

By Laura Servidei

Loading image...

Successful role debuts for Damrau and Deshayes in Oper Zürich's Anna Bolena

By Laura Servidei, 05 December 2021

A great cast in Zurich, under the inspired baton of Enrique Mazzola, although David Alden's new production does not completely convince.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Zurich

07 Dec 2021

Successful debuts for Damrau and Deshayes in Zürich's Anna Bolena

By Laura Servidei

Salzburg

A true Trionfo in Salzburg

By Laura Servidei, 23 May 2021

A new, insightful production by Robert Carsen gives life to Handel’s early oratorio at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, with a magnificent cast led by Cecilia Bartoli.

*****

*****

Salzburg

25 May 2021

A true Trionfo in Salzburg

By Laura Servidei

Astrid Kessler nails the title role in Robert Carsen's “strange beast” of an Arabella in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet, 01 March 2020

Using the Nazi regime as his Leitmotif, Canadian director Robert Carsen brings Richard Strauss’ Arabella to the Zurich stage.

***11

***11

Zurich

03 Mar 2020

Astrid Kessler nails the title role in Arabella in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet

Rinaldo revived: Glyndebourne tours its school-based Handel opera

By Mark Valencia, 26 October 2019

Blazers and breastplates! This Rinaldo is already eight years old! It’s played at the BBC Proms while almost 40 performances have graced Glyndebourne’s festival and tour up to now, so it must be doing something right.

***11

***11

Glyndebourne

28 Oct 2019

Rinaldo revived: Glyndebourne tours its school-based Handel opera

By Mark Valencia

Milan

Handel at La Scala, and it's a sensation

By Renato Verga, 18 October 2019

Carsen's modern mise en scène of Handel's opera did not stand out for originality, but for finesse and elegance and that was substantially appreciated by the audience.

****1

****1

Milan

20 Oct 2019

Handel at La Scala, and it's a sensation

By Renato Verga

Jolly hockey sticks! Orliński rules as Rinaldo at Glyndebourne

By Mark Pullinger, 08 August 2019

Robert Carsen's riotous production of Rinaldo returns to the Sussex Downs, a schoolboy fantasy colliding crusading knights with St Trinian's bad girls.

****1

****1

Glyndebourne

09 Aug 2019

Jolly hockey sticks! Orliński rules as Rinaldo at Glyndebourne

By Mark Pullinger

Mom’s a hooker, Santa’s the witch: Hansel and Gretel reloaded in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet, 18 November 2018

Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel has appeal for all ages, but Robert Carsen’s production is a different take on the beloved fairy tale.

***11

***11

Zurich

19 Nov 2018

Hansel and Gretel reloaded in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet

Swan cruise: Nelsons navigates a musically impressive Lohengrin at Covent Garden

By Mark Pullinger, 07 June 2018

David Alden’s new production for The Royal Opera, referencing fascist Germany, is drab, but there are musical compensations.

***11

***11

London

08 Jun 2018

Swan cruise: Lohengrin at Covent Garden

By Mark Pullinger

Defiling the throne: David Alden's cumbersome Maria Stuarda disappoints in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet, 11 April 2018

Gaetano Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda is perhaps most famous for a single and highly emotional scene in which two monarchs engage in a venomous confrontation. One is doomed to die.

***11

***11

Zurich

12 Apr 2018

David Alden's new Maria Stuarda disappoints in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet

Minimalistic new production of Idomeneo in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet, 04 February 2018

In Jetske Mijnssen’s new production of Idomeneo, all order of human entanglements, sorrows and pain run rampant.

***11

***11

Zurich

05 Feb 2018

Minimalistic new production of Idomeneo in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet

Vienna

Robert Carsen serves up a flawless Wozzeck for new Theater an der Wien staging

By Chanda VanderHart, 17 October 2017

Without glitz, extravagance or the need to be expressly shocking, Robert Carsen's new production of Wozzeck at the Theater an der Wien is exceptional.

*****

*****

Vienna

18 Oct 2017

A flawless Wozzeck for Theater an der Wien

By Chanda VanderHart

Santa Fe

Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered: Alcina casts some surprising spells in Santa Fe

By Thomas May, 29 July 2017

David Alden's staging of Alcina mines the rich theatricality of one of Handel's best-loved operas with enchanting but also perplexing results.

****1

****1

Santa Fe

30 Jul 2017

Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered

By Thomas May

A mixed Tosca from English National Opera

By Dominic Lowe, 03 October 2016

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.

***11

***11

London

04 Oct 2016

A mixed Tosca from English National Opera

By Dominic Lowe

Carte blanche: A muddled Queen of Spades from David Alden at ENO

By Mark Pullinger, 06 June 2015

David Alden’s muddled clichés failed to convince all the time, but Edward Gardner steered us through a thrilling musical account of Tchaikovsky’s terrific opera.

***11

***11

London

07 Jun 2015

Carte blanche: A muddled Queen of Spades

By Mark Pullinger

Frankfurt am Main

Amorously enormously entangled: L'Orontea in Frankfurt

By Christoph Wurzel, 14 February 2015

L'Orontea was premièred as turbulent Carneval entertainment in 1656. Now it is experiencing a fast-paced new staging as modern opera gag at Frankfurt Opera.

****1

****1

Frankfurt am Main

24 Feb 2015

Amorously enormously entangled

By Christoph Wurzel

Rinaldo at Glyndebourne: If only all history lessons were this much fun!

By Mark Pullinger, 09 August 2014

Chalk and talk is dead. Teachers scramble to bring history to life in classrooms up and down the country through dressing-up days and interactive whiteboard activities. Few, however, can equal Robert Carsen’s efforts in his riotous production of Handel’s Rinaldo, here on its first Glyndebourne revival since its 2011 première.

****1

****1

Glyndebourne

10 Aug 2014

If only all history lessons were this much fun!

By Mark Pullinger

Loading image...

Vienna

Rameau meets Lagerfeld at Vanity Fair: Robert Carsen’s Platée at Theater an der Wien

By Snapdragon, 19 February 2014

Out of the swamp: Marcel Beekman rocks the house in Robert Carsen’s glittering take on Platée.

*****

Loading image...

*****

Vienna

23 Feb 2014

Rameau meets Lagerfeld at Vanity Fair: Platée at Theater an der Wien

By Snapdragon

Glyndebourne's Rinaldo on Tour

By Nahoko Gotoh, 22 October 2011

Glyndebourne has a great track record with staging Handel’s works. In recent years, there have been great productions of Theodora, Rodelinda and Giulio Cesare, all of which have proved equally popular at subsequent revival and Glyndebourne on Tour (GTO) productions as well.

Glyndebourne

26 Oct 2011

Glyndebourne's Rinaldo on Tour

By Nahoko Gotoh

Loading image...

Salzburg

Putsch in Rom: Mozarts Titus als spannendes Politdrama der Gegenwart in Salzburg

By Christoph Wurzel, 17 May 2024

Eine neue Sicht auf Mozarts Krönungsoper von 1791: Schlüssig inszeniert, herausragend gesungen und gespielt wird La clemenza di Tito zu einem packenden Drama über die Ränkespiele politischer Macht von heute.

*****

Loading image...

*****

Salzburg

21 May 2024

Mozarts Titus als spannendes Politdrama der Gegenwart in Salzburg

By Christoph Wurzel

Loading image...

Liebesdreieck im Niemandsland: Bizets Carmen am Opernhaus Zürich

By Thomas Schacher, 07 April 2024

Andreas Homoki macht in seiner Inszenierung einen grossen Bogen um alles Spanische. Die Hauptdarstellerin Marina Viotti will keine Femme fatale sein. Doch Gianandrea Noseda lässt die klanglichen Trümpfe der Partitur ausspielen.

***11

Loading image...

***11

Zurich

09 Apr 2024

Liebesdreieck im Niemandsland: Bizets Carmen am Opernhaus Zürich

By Thomas Schacher

Loading image...

Paris

Une Carmen à entendre plus qu’à voir à l’Opéra Comique

By Jean-Pierre Rousseau, 26 April 2023

Si la mise en scène d'Andreas Homoki déçoit tant elle est incompréhensible, la performance de Gaëlle Arquez dans le rôle-titre et les couleurs de l'Orchestre des Champs-Élysées dans la fosse méritent le détour.

***11

Loading image...

***11

Paris

27 Apr 2023

Une Carmen à entendre plus qu’à voir à l’Opéra Comique

By Jean-Pierre Rousseau

Loading image...

Strasbourg

Gêne et perplexité face au Couronnement de Poppée d’Evgeny Titov à Strasbourg

By Romain Daroles, 24 March 2023

La mise en scène ultra sexualisée du chef-d'œuvre de Monteverdi est gênante de naïveté et de kitsch, en parfait décalage avec la direction musicale de Raphaël Pichon.

**111

Loading image...

**111

Strasbourg

26 Mar 2023

Gêne et perplexité face au Couronnement de Poppée à Strasbourg

By Romain Daroles

Loading image...

Liebesdreieck am englischen Königshof: Donizettis Roberto Devereux in Zürich

By Thomas Schacher, 05 February 2023

David Alden beschreitet einen Mittelweg zwischen Ausstattungsoper und Regietheater, Enrique Mazzola baut seinen historischen Ansatz aus, und Inga Kalna vermag die Erwartungen nicht ganz zu erfüllen.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Zurich

06 Feb 2023

Liebesdreieck am englischen Königshof: Roberto Devereux in Zürich

By Thomas Schacher

Loading image...

Graz

Vergangenheitsbewältigung mit Familie Pinkerton: Madama Butterfly in Graz

By Isabella Steppan, 05 November 2022

Floris Visser bringt eine ebenso interessante wie bildgewaltige Interpretation von Puccinis Klassiker auf die Bühne; auch musikalisch überzeugt der Abend fast auf ganzer Linie.

****1

Loading image...

****1

Graz

07 Nov 2022

Vergangenheitsbewältigung mit Familie Pinkerton: Butterfly in Graz

By Isabella Steppan

Loading image...

Les virages manqués d'Arabella à l’Opernhaus de Zurich

By Romain Daroles, 08 May 2022

La mise en scène de Robert Carsen reste trop littérale et la direction de Markus Poschner trop anguleuse pour la comédie lyrique de Strauss.

**111

Loading image...

**111

Zurich

10 May 2022

Les virages manqués d'Arabella à l’Opernhaus de Zurich

By Romain Daroles

Graz

Don Carlo zeigt an der Oper Graz die erdrückende Enge des spanischen Hofs

By Isabella Steppan, 28 September 2019

In der italienischen vieraktigen Version erklingt Giuseppe Verdis Oper vielversprechend zur Saisoneröffnung.

***11

***11

Graz

01 Oct 2019

Don Carlo zeigt in Graz die erdrückende Enge des spanischen Hofs

By Isabella Steppan