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Liverpool

A Fauré Requiem for today from Ben Glassberg and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

By Peter Connors, 11 November 2023

A programme of French music culminates in a heartfelt Fauré Requiem with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir.

****1

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****1

Liverpool

12 Nov 2023

A Fauré Requiem for today from Glassberg and the RLPO

By Peter Connors

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Madrid

Illuminating history-makers: Nixon in China lands at Teatro Real in Madrid

By David Karlin, 17 April 2023

John Adams’ opera about Richard Nixon’s historic meeting with Mao Tse-Tung is performed with all round excellence, with a real find on the podium in the shape of Olivia Lee-Gunderman.

****1

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****1

Madrid

18 Apr 2023

Illuminating history-makers: Nixon in China lands in Madrid

By David Karlin

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London

Andrew Manze steers BBC forces as Brits make waves in the Royal Albert Hall

By Roy Westbrook, 27 July 2022

“Behold, the sea itself!” Prom 16 is all at sea with Doreen Carwithen's Bishop Rock and Grace Williams' Sea Sketches ahead of RVW's great Sea Symphony.

****1

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****1

London

28 Jul 2022

Manze steers the BBC ship as Brits make waves in the Royal Albert Hall

By Roy Westbrook

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New York City

Allan Clayton dazzles in Brett Dean’s Hamlet at the Metropolitan Opera

By David Wolfson, 18 May 2022

Brett Dean’s Hamlet at the Met is a worthy addition to the operatic canon, and the production is a treat.

*****

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*****

New York City

19 May 2022

Allan Clayton dazzles in Brett Dean’s Hamlet at the Met

By David Wolfson

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London

The power of the sea, the cruelty of the mob: Peter Grimes at The Royal Opera

By David Karlin, 17 March 2022

Deborah Warner's intelligent new Covent Garden staging provides the perfect backdrop for a strong singing cast in Britten's maritime masterpiece.

****1

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****1

London

18 Mar 2022

Potent sea, cruel mob: Peter Grimes at The Royal Opera

By David Karlin

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High Wycombe

Bangs and whimpers: Cal McCrystal directs a riotous Le Comte Ory at Garsington

By Dominic Lowe, 02 July 2021

Garsington Opera's new production of Rossini's comic masterpiece is a bawdy hoot, but humour aside it features an ensemble who provide first-class bel canto singing.

****1

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****1

High Wycombe

04 Jul 2021

Bangs and whimpers: Cal McCrystal directs Le Comte Ory at Garsington

By Dominic Lowe

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Madrid

The martyrs and the oppressed: Peter Grimes at Teatro Real Madrid

By Juan José Freijo, 19 April 2021

The new production of Peter Grimes stands out as the strongest item in Teatro Real's season, with magnificent staging by Deborah Warner and superb musical direction by Ivor Bolton, with outstanding vocal and dramatic performances.

*****

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*****

Madrid

21 Apr 2021

The martyrs and the oppressed: Peter Grimes at Teatro Real Madrid

By Juan José Freijo

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Geneva

A hi-gloss Pelléas et Mélisande falls flat in Geneva

By Mark Valencia, 19 February 2021

Heroes emerge in adversity, and there are sterling turns from Leigh Melrose as a pugilistic Golaud and from the venerable Arkel of Matthew Best.

**111

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**111

Geneva

22 Feb 2021

A hi-gloss Pelléas et Mélisande falls flat in Geneva

By Mark Valencia

London

Massenet the arch-romantic: Werther returns to Covent Garden

By David Karlin, 17 September 2019

Edward Gardner brings out the Wagner influence in Massenet's opulent score, Juan Diego Flórez give a persuasive performance in the title role.

***11

***11

London

18 Sep 2019

Massenet the arch-romantic: Werther returns to Covent Garden

By David Karlin

London

Billy Budd finally drops anchor again at The Royal Opera

By Mark Pullinger, 23 April 2019

After nearly two decades away from the Covent Garden stage, it was time Britten's Billy Budd came home, in a new production from Madrid by Deborah Warner.

****1

****1

London

24 Apr 2019

Billy Budd finally drops anchor again at The Royal Opera

By Mark Pullinger

Hong Kong

Luminous performances lift heavy-metal staging of Pelléas et Mélisande

By Carla Escoda, 15 March 2018

Stellar voices and orcheatra and some inspired staging choices elevate an otherwise heavy-handed production of Pelléas et Mélisande from the WNO at the Hong Kong Arts Festival.

****1

****1

Hong Kong

18 Mar 2018

Luminous performances lift heavy-metal Pelléas

By Carla Escoda

London

Prom 21: An underwhelming performance of MacMillan and Beethoven

By Aaron Davies, 30 July 2017

An underwhelming performance that fell prey to poor interpretive judgements.

**111

**111

London

01 Aug 2017

An underwhelming performance of MacMillan & Beethoven

By Aaron Davies

Glyndebourne

Shakespeare boldly adapted by Brett Dean: Hamlet at Glyndebourne

By David Karlin, 11 June 2017

Brett Dean treats Shakespeare's behemoth as a timeless story told in language that has become timeless; no effort is spared in elucidating and amplifying that story.

****1

****1

Glyndebourne

12 Jun 2017

Hamlet boldly adapted by Brett Dean

By David Karlin

Madrid

Deborah Warner's new Billy Budd sets a new standard in Madrid

By Fernando Remiro, 03 February 2017

Billy Budd triumphs in Madrid thanks to an inspired orchestra, a solid cast and a dream team of stage magicians.

****1

****1

Madrid

06 Feb 2017

Warner's new Billy Budd sets a new standard in Madrid

By Fernando Remiro

London

Startling gems: Stephen Hough the composer with The Prince Consort at Wigmore Hall

By Frances Wilson, 28 October 2016

Pianist, composer and polymath Stephen Hough joined The Prince Consort for an evening of intriguing and startling gems, and a world première of Hough’s own witty, intricate, intimate and beautifully arresting art songs.

*****

*****

London

29 Oct 2016

Startling gems: Stephen Hough the composer

By Frances Wilson

London

Slow to ignite: tepid revival of Bizet’s Pearl Fishers at ENO

By Mark Pullinger, 19 October 2016

Penny Woolcock's shanty town production continues to improve with each outing. This time, ENO has found singers who can negotiate the vocal challenges more naturally.

***11

***11

London

20 Oct 2016

Slow to ignite: Bizet’s Pearl Fishers at ENO

By Mark Pullinger

London

Classical Opera's Don Giovanni: a masterclass in concert performance

By Dominic Lowe, 17 June 2016

Ian Page assembled a fine cast, with a particularly good Leporello from David Soar for yet another superb performance of Mozart from Classical Opera.

****1

****1

London

18 Jun 2016

Classical Opera's Don Giovanni at Cadogan Hall

By Dominic Lowe

Zurich

Manifestations of trauma: Tcherniakov's Pelléas et Mélisande in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet, 08 May 2016

Anyone expecting a wishing well, castle and healthy portion of pomp in Dmitri Tcherniakov’s new production of Pélleas et Mélisande is in for a big surprise.

***11

***11

Zurich

09 May 2016

Tcherniakov's Pelléas et Mélisande in Zurich

By Sarah Batschelet

Chicago

Bel Canto mixes new sounds and conservative ideas at Lyric Opera Chicago

By Dan Wang, 07 December 2015

It is the fusion of textures and styles coming from the pit that gives Bel Canto a memorable musical profile.

***11

***11

Chicago

10 Dec 2015

Bel Canto at Lyric Opera Chicago

By Dan Wang

Cardiff

Spiral staircase and paddling pool: Pelléas et Mélisande from Welsh National Opera

By Simon Rees, 29 May 2015

Mélisande as Lulu in David Pountney's unfulfilling production of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande at Welsh National Opera.

****1

****1

Cardiff

31 May 2015

Pelléas et Mélisande from Welsh National Opera

By Simon Rees

Madrid

A retreating world: War Requiem at Teatro Real

By Fernando Remiro, 12 March 2015

The Teatro Real crowns his Britten cycle with a canonic War Requiem conducted by Pablo Heras-Casado and superbly sung by John Mark Aisnley and Jacques Imbrailo.

***11

***11

Madrid

16 Mar 2015

A retreating world: War Requiem at Teatro Real

By Fernando Remiro

Cardiff

Lobsters, bowler hats and The Financial Times: The Magic Flute given Magritte makeover by Welsh National Opera

By Simon Rees, 13 February 2015

Lothar Koenigs conducts a stylish, colourful Magic Flute inspired by Magritte.

****1

****1

Cardiff

15 Feb 2015

The Magic Flute given Magritte makeover by WNO

By Simon Rees

London

A Fledermaus with intermittent fizz

By Mark Pullinger, 27 April 2014

Die Fledermaus is as quintessentially Viennese as zithers and Schnitzel. In John Wilson, the Philharmonia and a fine ensemble cast, we should have had all the ingredients for a memorable matinée performance, but a few elements meant the fizz went rather flat.

***11

***11

London

27 Apr 2014

A Fledermaus with intermittent fizz

By Mark Pullinger

New York City

Glyndebourne's Billy Budd in New York

By David Allen, 07 February 2014

This BAM production of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd, imported from Glyndebourne, achieves the rare distinction of making a great performance out of a decidedly mediocre work.

*****

*****

New York City

10 Feb 2014

Glyndebourne at BAM: Billy Budd

By David Allen

Glasgow

Scottish Opera's sinister Venetian Don Giovanni suits the dark tale perfectly

By David Smythe, 26 October 2013

A year of theatre refurbishment leaves Scottish Opera with only three and half full productions this season, so the spotlight turned firmly onto this Don Giovanni from director Sir Thomas Allen, designer Simon Higlett and lighting designer Mark Jonathan.

***11

***11

Glasgow

06 Nov 2013

Scottish Opera: Don Giovanni

By David Smythe

London

Prom 60: Glyndebourne's Billy Budd silences the Albert Hall

By Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres, 27 August 2013

The silence at the end of the concert said it all. To have plunged the attention of the entire Royal Albert Hall into utter silence for a whole minute after the music has finished was an impressive feat. Such was the audience response to Mark Padmore’s closing walk down the back of the stage, as Captain Vere.

*****

*****

London

29 Aug 2013

Prom 60: Glyndebourne's Billy Budd silences the Albert Hall

By Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres

Glyndebourne

Flawless tragedy, almost unbearable: Billy Budd at Glyndebourne

By David Karlin, 10 August 2013

You can view Britten’s Billy Budd as an opera about the failure of words. When the angelic sailor Billy is falsely accused by his superior office Claggart, his stammer prevents him from defending himself and he lashes out, fatally.

*****

*****

Glyndebourne

11 Aug 2013

Flawless tragedy, almost unbearable: Billy Budd at Glyndebourne

By David Karlin

Manchester

The Hallé and Sir Mark Elder: Mahler and the Military Symphony

By Rohan Shotton, 13 April 2013

At the end of a successful week in which the orchestra’s recording of The Apostles won BBC Music Magazine’s Disc of the Year award, Sir Mark Elder conducted the Hallé in a joyfully youthful account of Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn, followed by graphic Janáček and Hadyn.The concert programme was interesting on several fronts.

****1

****1

Manchester

15 Apr 2013

The Hallé and Sir Mark Elder: Mahler and the Military Symphony

By Rohan Shotton

London

Haydn, Hummel and Ravel performed with confidence by the BBC Symphony Orchestra

By Evan Dickerson, 12 October 2012

Josep Pons strode purposefully onto the Barbican stage to conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra in a performance of Haydn’s “Clock” Symphony. The first movement opened by way of an Adagio laden with a suitable sense of portent, the layers of writing for the strings being clearly articulated to bring this out.

****1

****1

London

22 Oct 2012

Haydn, Hummel and Ravel performed with confidence by the BBC Symphony Orchestra

By Evan Dickerson

London

Prom 37: Elgar's The Apostles with The Hallé

By Katherine Dixson, 10 August 2012

If you’ve never been to a grand-scale choral work at the Royal Albert Hall, I’d urge you to do so at the earliest opportunity. This wasn’t my first visit to the Proms, and I’ve experienced oratorios, requiems and passions galore in other places, but to hear hundreds of accomplished singers filling this vast circular space was new territory for me. The hall seemed made for the occasion.

****1

****1

London

13 Aug 2012

Prom 37: Elgar's The Apostles with The Hallé

By Katherine Dixson

London

Jette Parker Young Artists Tenth Anniversary celebrated at ROH: Il Viaggio a Reims

By Katy S. Austin, 19 July 2012

The Tenth Anniversary of the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Young Artists Scheme is a landmark of no small size. This summer performance brought back some of the best singers it has produced for a semi-staged rendition of Rossini’s one-act 1825 opera Il Viaggio a Reims. It was a celebratory display of virtuoso held together with a generous dose of self-indulgence.

****1

****1

London

22 Jul 2012

Jette Parker Young Artists Tenth Anniversary celebrated at ROH: Il Viaggio a Reims

By Katy S. Austin

Manchester

Elder's apostolic Elgar: The Apostles at the Bridgewater Hall

By Andrew H. King, 05 May 2012

Elgar’s oratorios The Apostles (1903) and The Kingdom (1906) are the manifestation of a fascination that he had held since his childhood in Worcester.

****1

****1

Manchester

08 May 2012

Elder's apostolic Elgar: The Apostles at the Bridgewater Hall

By Andrew H. King

Bristol

BSO Brave Burana: The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at The Colston Hall

By Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres, 19 April 2012

If ever a concert could be described as a firework, this was it. The stage was ignited with music and we waited for the best bit - that crucial, beautiful explosion of colour. As part of the Colston Hall’s International Classical Season, The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra performed the iconic choral work Carmina Burana by Carl Orff (1895-1982).

***11

***11

Bristol

21 Apr 2012

BSO Brave Burana: The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at The Colston Hall

By Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres

London

Judith Weir's Miss Fortune at Covent Garden

By David Karlin, 12 March 2012

There’s usually plenty of hype surrounding a newly written opera performed at Covent Garden, but the carefully placed stories about Judith Weir’s Miss Fortune are on the improbable end of the scale, featuring a flying kebab shop and a team of breakdancers. So I arrived at Miss Fortune without any real idea of what I was going to get.

***11

***11

London

13 Mar 2012

Judith Weir's Miss Fortune at Covent Garden

By David Karlin

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Munich

Brett Deans fulminanter Hamlet bei den Münchner Opernfestspielen

By Michael Vieth, 26 June 2023

Ein Werk, das sowohl traditionell als auch innovativ, elegant und leidenschaftlich ist: Brett Deans Hamlet, dessen gewaltige Aufgaben an Szene und Musik an der Staatsoper in München überzeugend gelöst wurden.

***11

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***11

Munich

27 Jun 2023

Brett Deans fulminanter Hamlet bei den Münchner Opernfestspielen

By Michael Vieth

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Paris

Dans les filets de Deborah Warner : Peter Grimes emporte Garnier

By Tristan Labouret, 26 January 2023

C'est peut-être l'événement de la saison à l'Opéra de Paris : dans le chef-d'œuvre de Britten, la metteuse en scène britannique fait des débuts remarqués dans la Grande Boutique.

*****

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*****

Paris

28 Jan 2023

Dans les filets de Deborah Warner : Peter Grimes emporte Garnier

By Tristan Labouret

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Brussels

La Dame de Pique et la tristesse du socialisme réel à La Monnaie

By Patrice Lieberman, 11 September 2022

En ouverture de saison, la production mise en scène par David Marton et dirigée par Nathalie Stutzmann est un succès, porté par une belle distribution.

****1

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****1

Brussels

13 Sep 2022

La Dame de Pique et la tristesse du socialisme réel à La Monnaie

By Patrice Lieberman

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Vienna

Alpiner Verismo-Thriller: La Wally am Theater an der Wien

By Isabella Steppan, 12 November 2021

Bei der umjubelten Premiere von Alfredo Catalanis selten gespieltem Werk beeindruckten insbesondere Izabela Matula in der Titelrolle und der unverschämt schön klingende Arnold Schönberg Chor.

****1

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****1

Vienna

14 Nov 2021

Alpiner Verismo-Thriller: La Wally am Theater an der Wien

By Isabella Steppan

Antwerp

Un opéra-ballet ? Pelléas et Mélisande à Anvers

By Patrice Lieberman, 02 February 2018

On ne pourra pas dire que l’équipe des metteurs en scène/chorégraphes Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui et Damien Jalet, associée à Marina Abramovic qui signait et le décor et le concept, aient fait dans le conventionnel, offrant une approche à la fois futuriste et rétro de Pelléas et Mélisande.

***11

***11

Antwerp

04 Feb 2018

Un opéra-ballet ? Pelléas et Mélisande à Anvers

By Patrice Lieberman