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The second Elizabethan age receives a noble tribute from the first in ENO's Gloriana

By Roy Westbrook, 08 December 2022

When done as well as this, a "concert staging" is not oxymoronic, but a precise term for a valuable mode of presentation.

****1

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****1

London

08 Dec 2022

Second Elizabethan age receives a noble tribute in ENO's Gloriana

By Roy Westbrook

Adelaide

Amazing Breaking the Waves: Scottish Opera at the Adelaide Festival

By Brian Angus, 13 March 2020

Breaking the Waves is a remarkable opera. Scottish Opera has brought a thrilling cast, orchestra and team to Adelaide, and its audiences are all the richer for it.

*****

*****

Adelaide

13 Mar 2020

Amazing Breaking the Waves: Scottish Opera at the Adelaide Festival

By Brian Angus

Edinburgh

Mazzoli’s luminous Breaking the Waves receives European premiere in Edinburgh

By David Smythe, 21 August 2019

Sydney Mancasola gives a towering performance in Scottish Opera's new production by Tom Morris.

****1

****1

Edinburgh

21 Aug 2019

Mazzoli’s luminous Breaking the Waves receives European premiere

By David Smythe

London

ENO and the Open Air Theatre join forces for a lip-smacking Hansel and Gretel

By Mark Valencia, 17 June 2019

Mezzo-soprano Rachel Kelly and soprano Susanna Hurrell were the eponymous pair and, my, how they chewed the scenery.

****1

****1

London

17 Jun 2019

A lip-smacking Hansel and Gretel at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre

By Mark Valencia

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

23 Apr 2019

Billy Budd finally drops anchor again at The Royal Opera

By Mark Pullinger

London

Russian pyrotechnics and robust Anglican religion contrast in BBC SO programme

By John Johnston, 15 November 2018

Dame Ethel Smyth's Mass in D enjoys a rare outing with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Martyn Brabbins.

****1

****1

London

15 Nov 2018

Russian pyrotechnics and robust Anglican religion

By John Johnston

London

La bohème at the Royal Opera: a simple tragedy, heart-rendingly told

By David Karlin, 16 June 2018

A committed cast make this a beautifully performed ensemble piece in which the tragedy of young love cut short by untimely disease is compellingly put across.

****1

****1

London

16 Jun 2018

La bohème at ROH: a simple tragedy, heart-rendingly told

By David Karlin

Madrid

The vindication of a neglected masterpiece: a landmark Gloriana at the Teatro Real

By Fernando Remiro, 14 April 2018

Ivor Bolton and David McVicar have teamed up to create an unapologetically Brittenian Gloriana, with Anna Caterina Antonacci at the top of a great cast

*****

*****

Madrid

14 Apr 2018

A landmark Gloriana at the Teatro Real

By Fernando Remiro

London

Big city alienation and love in the LSO's Bernstein 100 season

By John Johnston, 16 December 2017

Cast and choir snaked and kicked their legs through the aisles of the hall – picking up audience members along the way – leading to a riotous on-stage dance.

****1

****1

London

16 Dec 2017

Bernstein 100: Big city alienation and love

By John Johnston

New York City

Angel Blue impresses in her Met debut in an enthralling Bohème

By Vishnu Bachani, 06 October 2017

A revival of Franco Zeffirelli’s 1981 production was graced by an impressive case, including the Met debut of soprano Angel Blue.

***11

***11

New York City

06 Oct 2017

Angel Blue impresses in her Met debut in an enthralling Bohème

By Vishnu Bachani

High Wycombe

Le nozze di Figaro at Garsington

By Katherine Cooper, 04 June 2017

A slick production from the Garsington Opera Company, who use the location of the Wormley Estate to their full advantage.

****1

****1

High Wycombe

04 Jun 2017

Le nozze di Figaro at Garsington

By Katherine Cooper

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

03 Feb 2017

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

By Fernando Remiro

Glyndebourne

A drab Don Giovanni from the Glyndebourne Tour

By Dominic Lowe, 15 October 2016

A lack of inspiration and dull staging is a serious hindrance to the second of Glyndebourne's touring productions.

***11

***11

Glyndebourne

15 Oct 2016

A drab Don Giovanni from the Glyndebourne Tour

By Dominic Lowe

Glyndebourne

Enchanted Wood: dream of a Dream at Glyndebourne

By Mark Pullinger, 11 August 2016

“Out of this wood do not desire to go!” Tytania orders Bottom. Glyndebourne's revival of Peter Hall's classic production of A Midsummer Night's Dream is eerily enchanting, weaving its spell right from the queasy double bass glissandos, which slither into Britten's score.

*****

*****

Glyndebourne

11 Aug 2016

Enchanted Wood: dream of a Dream

By Mark Pullinger

London

BBC Symphony Orchestra introduces Partita by ‘voice of our generation’ Joseph Phibbs

By Jessica Marcus, 21 May 2016

Joseph Phibbs’s Partita makes a strong impression in its première at the Barbican.

***11

***11

London

21 May 2016

BBCSO introduces Joseph Phibbs' Partita

By Jessica Marcus

Leeds

Opera North's L'elisir d'amore bubbles with life in Leeds

By Richard Wilcocks, 17 February 2016

Opera North's revival of L'elisir d'amour directed by Daniel Slater at the Grand Theatre, Leeds, still bubbles with life, in spite of its age.

****1

****1

Leeds

17 Feb 2016

L'elisir d'amore bubbles with life in Leeds

By Richard Wilcocks

London

A heroine on heroin: ENO’s cold Bohème lacks heart

By Mark Pullinger, 16 October 2015

Despite some fine singing, Benedict Andrew's production of La bohème for English National Opera is devoid of heart.

**111

**111

London

16 Oct 2015

ENO’s Bohème: a heroine on heroin

By Mark Pullinger

Glyndebourne

Dark deeds under the microscope: Britten's Rape of Lucretia at Glyndebourne

By David Karlin, 05 July 2015

The Rape of Lucretia may be something of a problem piece, but Fiona Shaw's production is an excellent piece of ensemble theatre set around some very fine performances of music of rare beauty.

****1

****1

Glyndebourne

05 Jul 2015

Dark deeds under the microscope: Britten's Lucretia

By David Karlin

London

Hats off to David Hill in French repertoire with the LSO at the Barbican

By David Truslove, 01 March 2015

At very short notice David Hill stepped in to conduct an all-French programme with the London Symphony Orchestra where serenity, elegance and passion were all beautifully communicated.

****1

****1

London

01 Mar 2015

Hats off to David Hill at the Barbican

By David Truslove

Madrid

The universalization of Britten: Death in Venice in Madrid

By Fernando Remiro, 04 December 2014

Death in Venice makes its première in Madrid with a rational and symbolic production by Willy Decker.

****1

****1

Madrid

04 Dec 2014

The universalization of Britten: Death in Venice

By Fernando Remiro

Berlin

Fiona Shaw brings theatre into the opera house in The Rape of Lucretia

By Max Woods, 14 November 2014

What makes this production of The Rape of Lucretia stand out is the singers’ acting. It’s immediate, it’s integrated into the singing, and it’s better than anything I’ve seen in any opera production before.

*****

*****

Berlin

14 Nov 2014

Fiona Shaw brings theatre into the opera house

By Max Woods

Winchester

"For the Fallen": BSO brings music linked to conflict to Winchester

By Katy S. Austin, 18 October 2014

Seven works by English composers created a journey from beauty to death as Remembrance day approaches. There wasn't much dwelling on the horrors of war itself, but plenty of human emotion and a sense of life sadly lost.

***11

***11

Winchester

18 Oct 2014

"For the Fallen": BSO in Winchester Cathedral

By Katy S. Austin

London

Electric Stravinsky outshines Brett Dean at the Proms

By Paul Kilbey, 07 August 2014

An impressive performance of Oedipus Rex under Sakari Oramo, demonstrating that his rapport with his new orchestra has grown rapidly.

***11

***11

London

07 Aug 2014

Electrifying Oedipus Rex at the Proms

By Paul Kilbey

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

07 Feb 2014

Glyndebourne at BAM: Billy Budd

By David Allen

London

Refreshingly unfussy: Jonathan Miller's classic La bohème revived at ENO

By Julia Savage, 29 April 2013

What to do with a “classic revival” that has, in the main, met the critics’ eye of approval? That was the question facing Natascha Metherell, the revival director of ENO’s production of La bohème, which opened this week at the Coliseum. The revival was in fact deftly handled: a production which remained faithful to Miller’s original vision, with honest, rather than over-egged, sentimentality.

****1

****1

London

29 Apr 2013

Refreshingly unfussy: Jonathan Miller's classic La bohème revived at ENO

By Julia Savage

London

Danger, sleaze, passion: Carmen re-imagined at ENO

By David Karlin, 21 November 2012

Carmen has always been in my head as a “pretty” opera: lovely tunes, colourful setting, exotically alluring gypsy brushing up against hunky bullfighter and handsome soldier - not exactly French Grand Opera, perhaps, but a far cry from gritty verismo.

***11

***11

London

21 Nov 2012

Danger, sleaze, passion: Carmen re-imagined at ENO

By David Karlin

London

The last revival: The Magic Flute at London Coliseum

By Julia Savage, 13 September 2012

The house was full for the opening night at the London Coliseum, and there were plenty of whoops for conductor Nicholas Collon as he made his ENO debut. This year marks the 25th anniversary of ENO's celebrated production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, and this revival – the fourteenth – will be the last.

****1

****1

London

13 Sep 2012

The last revival: The Magic Flute at London Coliseum

By Julia Savage

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Toulouse

Le Viol de Lucrèce à Toulouse : de belles voix pour un terne message

By Arnaud Saura-Ziegelmeyer, 30 May 2023

Rarement donnée sur les scènes lyriques, l'œuvre de Benjamin Britten bénéficie d'une belle interprétation musicale mais pâtit d'une mise en scène trop peu engagée pour en traduire le message aujourd'hui.

***11

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***11

Toulouse

30 May 2023

Lucrèce à Toulouse : de belles voix pour un terne message

By Arnaud Saura-Ziegelmeyer

Barcelona

Tándem superlativo en el Liceu: Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci encumbrados en Barcelona

By Maria Sánchez, 05 December 2019

Una propuesta escénica que engloba referentes provincianos del sur de Italia en estas dos joyas del verismo en un mismo mundo y con una belleza casi fílmica

*****

*****

Barcelona

05 Dec 2019

Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci de Michieletto triunfan en Barcelona

By Maria Sánchez