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

In Peter Sellars' reconstruction of Purcell's unfinished semi-opera The Indian Queen, fine vocal performances are spoilt by indifferent staging and choreography and an embarrassing retelling of the Conquistador story.

The sensational countertenor Franco Fagioli led an all-male cast in an extravagant staging of Vinci's Artaserse, a neglected Baroque opera,  at the Royal Opera House at Versailles.

“Music of doubt, music of questions, music of search”. This is how Peter Sellars, the stage director for this production of The Indian Queen, sees the music of Purcell in general and this piece in particular. Sellars has reportedly wanted to present his take on this semi-opera for decades. Finally, the Teatro Real, Perm Opera and English National Opera have joined forces to make it a reality.

Avec son ensemble Europa Galante, le violoniste et chef d'orchestre italien impressionne par la justesse de ses choix, tandis que Sara Mingardo incarne une admirable Pénélope.

In einem minimalistischen Bühnenbild aber durch höchst intensive Charakterisierung der Figuren gelingt an der Frankfurter Oper mit Händels Radamisto ein außergewöhnlich packender Opernabend.

Eine grandiose Besetzung, angeführt von Franco Fagioli, Juan Sancho und Max Emanuel Cencic, machte einen langen Abend zum Sängerfest.