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Watery masterpieces from Gardner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Proms

By Chris Garlick, 10 August 2025

The London Philharmonic and Edward Gardner steer us through four ocean-related pieces, by Sibelius, Tippett, Ravel and Debussy.

****1

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****1

London

10 Aug 2025

Gardner and the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Proms

By Chris Garlick

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London

Mummy issues: Michieletto’s Carmen returns to the Royal Opera House

By Dominic Lowe, 09 April 2025

Aigul Akhmetshina is on the verge of becoming the definitive Carmen; in this first revival of Michieletto's 2024 production at Covent Garden, she delivers the standout performance.

***11

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***11

London

09 Apr 2025

Mummy issues: Michieletto’s Carmen returns to The Royal Opera

By Dominic Lowe

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Vienna

Grigorian and Akhmetshina dazzle in a secular Norma at Theater an der Wien

By Chanda VanderHart, 19 February 2025

In a week where Vienna welcomes two new productions of Bellini's Norma, MusikTheater an der Wien sets a high bar with Vasily Barkhatov's staging.

****1

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****1

Vienna

19 Feb 2025

Grigorian and Akhmetshina dazzle in a secular Norma

By Chanda VanderHart

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Naples

Maria Stuarda: the second episode in Jetske Mijnssen's Tudor trilogy opens in Naples

By Lorenzo Fiorito, 20 June 2024

This production focuses on the psychological and human aspects of the central characters, rather than on their political conflict, with Elizabeth playing a pivotal role.

***11

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***11

Naples

20 Jun 2024

Second episode in Jetske Mijnssen's Tudor trilogy opens in Naples

By Lorenzo Fiorito

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London

Michieletto’s excellent new Carmen lit up by Beczała and Akhmetshina at Covent Garden

By David Karlin, 05 April 2024

Aigul Akhmetshina is outstanding in the title role, hearing Piotr Beczała is a privilege, but it's Damiano Michieletto's new staging that takes the honours.

****1

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****1

London

05 Apr 2024

Michieletto directs an excellent new Carmen at Covent Garden

By David Karlin

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New York City

Aigul Akhmetshina leads powerhouse cast in the Met’s contemporary new Carmen

By Susan Stempleski, 31 December 2023

Carrie Cracknell’s modernized take on Bizet’s 1875 iconic opera moves the action from early 19th-century Spain to a 21st-century American industrial town.

****1

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****1

New York City

31 Dec 2023

Aigul Akhmetshina leads powerhouse cast in the Met’s new Carmen

By Susan Stempleski

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London

Jonas Kaufmann ails as Werther, but Covent Garden hails Aigul Akhmetshina's Charlotte

By Mark Pullinger, 20 June 2023

The star tenor is clearly under the weather, but the young house-favourite mezzo shines in an impressive role debut in a revival of Benoît Jacquot's cinematic staging.

****1

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****1

London

20 Jun 2023

Jonas Kaufmann ails, Covent Garden hails Aigul Akhmetshina

By Mark Pullinger

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Amsterdam

Outstanding voices, compelling psychodrama: Maria Stuarda at Dutch National Opera

By David Karlin, 06 May 2023

Extraordinary performances from Kristina Mkhitaryan and Aigul Akhmetshina turn Donizetti's take on Schiller into an intense psychological portrait of power struggle.

*****

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*****

Amsterdam

06 May 2023

Outstanding voices, compelling drama: Maria Stuarda at DNO

By David Karlin

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London

Unfaltering opera buffa entertainment: Rossini's Barber of Seville at Covent Garden

By David Karlin, 02 February 2023

Two outstanding performances by young singers light up a splendidly crafted revival of Caurier and Leiser's colourful production.

*****

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*****

London

02 Feb 2023

Unfaltering opera buffa: The Barber of Seville at the ROH

By David Karlin

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New York City

A new cast brings the Met's Rigoletto to life

By Kevin W Ng, 10 November 2022

Three major Metropolitan Opera debuts bring excitement and vocal glamour to this revival of Bartlett Sher's Rigoletto production.

****1

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****1

New York City

10 Nov 2022

A new cast brings the Met's Rigoletto to life

By Kevin W Ng

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London

La commedia è finita: a scorching Cav & Pag at Covent Garden

By Mark Pullinger, 05 July 2022

With more cast reshuffles than in Downing Street of late, this revival of Damiano Michieletto's intertwined Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci double bill triumphs against the odds.

*****

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*****

London

05 Jul 2022

La commedia è finita: a scorching Cav & Pag at Covent Garden

By Mark Pullinger

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Baden-Baden

Outstanding performances in brothel-based Pique Dame at Baden-Baden Easter Festival

By Ako Imamura, 12 April 2022

The Baden-Baden Easter Festival offers a memorable production of Pique Dame with excellent musical performances convincing in Leiser and Caurier's updating of the plot.

*****

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*****

Baden-Baden

12 Apr 2022

Outstanding performances in brothel-based Baden-Baden Pique Dame

By Ako Imamura

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London

No punches pulled in an excellent Covent Garden Rigoletto

By David Karlin, 23 February 2022

The second cast of the season for Oliver Mears' new Royal Opera production augments the intelligent staging with superb singing and acting.

*****

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*****

London

23 Feb 2022

No punches pulled in an excellent Covent Garden Rigoletto

By David Karlin

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Amsterdam

Karin Rehnqvist’s stunning Silent Earth premieres at the Concertgebouw

By Rose Dodd, 29 January 2022

With the broad sweep of a bold Nordic brush, premieres from Sweden and Denmark presented fresh sound worlds in Amsterdam.

****1

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****1

Amsterdam

29 Jan 2022

Rehnqvist’s stunning Silent Earth premieres at the Concertgebouw

By Rose Dodd

Glyndebourne

In the bleak midsummer: Damiano Michieletto's Kátya Kabanová at Glyndebourne

By David Karlin, 20 May 2021

Glyndebourne's 2021 season opens with an intense, minimalist staging of Janáček’s tale of adultery, focused on the contrasts between its heroine's dreams and reality.

****1

****1

Glyndebourne

20 May 2021

In the bleak midsummer: Kátya Kabanová at Glyndebourne

By David Karlin

Tokyo

A stylish Fledermaus lifts spirits in Tokyo

By Nahoko Gotoh, 05 December 2020

A welcome touch of Austrian end of year festivities in Tokyo as Heinz Zednik's popular production of Die Fledermaus is revived.

****1

****1

Tokyo

05 Dec 2020

A stylish Fledermaus lifts spirits in Tokyo

By Nahoko Gotoh

London

Getting the band back together: Pappano leads The Royal Opera's return to action

By Mark Pullinger, 05 September 2020

After a few streamed events with chamber forces, the full orchestra and chorus returned to the House – albeit not in their usual positions – for an entertaining fundraising gala.

****1

****1

London

05 Sep 2020

Pappano leads The Royal Opera's return to action

By Mark Pullinger

Naples

The Queen of Spades plays her cards right in Naples

By Lorenzo Fiorito, 11 December 2019

Willy Decker does not try to make the structure of the plot any clearer, mainly concentrating on the deeper meaning of the work. The cast was excellent.

*****

*****

Naples

11 Dec 2019

The Queen of Spades plays her cards right in Naples

By Lorenzo Fiorito

Wexford

Man of La Mancha: Massenet’s Don Quichotte opens Wexford Festival Opera

By Mark Pullinger, 22 October 2019

A terrific opening to the 68th festival with Aigul Akhmetshina's sultry Dulcinée the standout in a great cast.

****1

****1

Wexford

22 Oct 2019

Man of La Mancha: Don Quichotte at Wexford

By Mark Pullinger

Berlin

A Diva playing a Diva: Adriana Lecouvreur in Berlin

By Laura Servidei, 04 September 2019

Anna Netrebko triumphs at the Deutsche Oper in a concert performance of Cilea’s masterpiece, under the baton of Michelangelo Mazza.

****1

****1

Berlin

04 Sep 2019

A Diva playing a Diva: Adriana Lecouvreur in Berlin

By Laura Servidei

London

Jette Parker Young Artists unite for a golden afternoon at Covent Garden

By Mark Valencia, 21 July 2019

The young singers spin any raw material into opera gold, sending the audience home as uplifted as if they’d just glugged a bellyful of Pimm’s.

****1

****1

London

21 Jul 2019

JPYA unite for a golden afternoon at Covent Garden

By Mark Valencia

London

La forza dei Cristofori: Loy and Maltman raise hell at Covent Garden

By David Karlin, 17 April 2019

Short of the three lead stars of its opening, The Royal Opera's La forza del destino remains a thrilling evening, powered by Christof Loy's interesting staging and virile singing from Christopher Maltman.

****1

****1

London

17 Apr 2019

La forza dei Cristofori: Loy and Maltman raise hell

By David Karlin

London

Ermonela Jaho makes a haunting return to Covent Garden’s Traviata

By Mark Pullinger, 14 January 2019

The Albanian soprano, who made a spectacular jump-in for her house debut in Richard Eyre's production in 2008, makes a splendid return.

****1

****1

London

14 Jan 2019

Ermonela Jaho makes a haunting return to Covent Garden’s Traviata

By Mark Pullinger

London

No muddle, just music: Pappano delivers an exceptional Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

By David Karlin, 12 April 2018

The Royal Opera Orchestra produce a revelatory reading of Shostakovich’s eclectic score; a fine performance from Eva-Maria Westbroek and excellent acting from the whole cast light up the drama and farce.

****1

****1

London

12 Apr 2018

No muddle, just music: ROH Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

By David Karlin

London

Kosky's Carmen fails to light fires at Covent Garden

By David Karlin, 14 February 2018

Interesting ideas and a brilliant orchestral performance aren't enough to overcome a visually dull staging, predictable choreography and a lack of chemistry between the protagonists.

**111

**111

London

14 Feb 2018

Kosky's Carmen fails to light fires

By David Karlin

London

Tragedy undermined: Peter Brook's La Tragédie de Carmen at Wilton's Music Hall

By Mark Pullinger, 04 November 2017

Paring the action down to just four singers, La Tragédie de Carmen is the perfect vehicle and venue for a handful of the Royal Opera's Jette Parker Young Artists to strut their stuff.

**111

**111

London

04 Nov 2017

Tragedy undermined at Wilton's

By Mark Pullinger

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Madrid

Una Maria Stuarda clásica brilla a través de un gran elenco en el Teatro Real

By Leonardo Mattana Ereño, 14 December 2024

Maria Stuarda, bajo la dirección de McVicar y Pérez-Sierra, resultó ser una representación redonda, con gran sentido del espectáculo y un equilibrio que situa al canto en el centro de la misma.

****1

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****1

Madrid

14 Dec 2024

Maria Stuarda brilla a través de un gran elenco en el Teatro Real

By Leonardo Mattana Ereño

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Vienna

Packende Brutalität: Calixto Bieitos Carmen an der Wiener Staatsoper

By Isabella Steppan, 07 September 2024

Exzellent besetzt und als mitreißender Thriller inszeniert wird bereits in der ersten Woche der neuen Saison im Haus am Ring ein Highlight geboten.

****1

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****1

Vienna

07 Sep 2024

Packende Brutalität: Calixto Bieitos Carmen an der Wiener Staatsoper

By Isabella Steppan

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Salzburg

Schön wie eine Liebeserklärung: I Capuleti e i Montecchi bei den Salzburger Festspielen

By Isabella Steppan, 21 August 2023

Eine konzertante Aufführung von Bellinis Oper sorgt dank Aigul Akhmetshina und Elsa Dreisig für den wohl beeindruckendsten Opernmoment des Sommers.

*****

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*****

Salzburg

21 Aug 2023

Schön wie eine Liebeserklärung: I Capuleti e i Montecchi in Salzburg

By Isabella Steppan

Madrid

Segundo reparto de La Cenerentola: el frenesí rossiniano en la escena del Teatro Real

By Leonardo Mattana Ereño, 26 September 2021

El Teatro Real inicia la temporada 21-22 con una agitada producción de La Cenerentola de Rossini con dirección musical de Riccardo Frizza y esscénica de Stefan Herheim.

***11

***11

Madrid

26 Sep 2021

Segundo reparto de La Cenerentola: el frenesí rossiniano

By Leonardo Mattana Ereño

Madrid

Dudamel en el Real o el espectáculo de la Novena enmascarada

By Jorge Baeza Stanicic, 19 September 2020

Gustavo Dudamel se presentó en el escenario del Real precedido de una inmensa expectación para dirigir la Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid, en sustitución a la Mahler Chamber Orchestra, al Cor de Cambra y Orfeó Català.

****1

****1

Madrid

19 Sep 2020

Dudamel en el Real o el espectáculo de la Novena enmascarada

By Jorge Baeza Stanicic

Baugé-en-Anjou

L’insoutenable légèreté de Rossini : fringante Cenerentola à Baugé

By Suzanne Lay-Canessa, 30 July 2017

S’attaquer à Rossini implique de comprendre son alchimie – en somme, de se souvenir qu’il ne peut exister sans qu’on mobilise la légéreté et la tenue, le souffle et la précision.

***11

***11

Baugé-en-Anjou

30 Jul 2017

Fringante Cenerentola à Baugé

By Suzanne Lay-Canessa