2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-11-04UTC12:10:35+00:002016-11-04A thrilling new staging of Gounod's opera from the team that brought Bayreuth its current Ring, with musical rewards to match.The devil is in the detail: Gounod's Faust in Stuttgarten_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-faust-castorf-ayan-palka-oper-stuttgart-november-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMatthew Ryehttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/files/24809-matthew_rye.jpgMatthew read music at Oxford and has worked in music journalism for 30 years as a writer, critic and editor. He has written numerous programme and CD booklet notes, spent 13 years as a Daily Telegraph critic, worked at BBC Music Magazine and was reviews editor of The Strad, for which he continues to write. He also writes for The Wagner Journal and Opera Now and blogs at ferneklang.blogspot.co.uk. He was general editor of 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die (Cassell Illustrated, 2007) and is the author of a new series of eBooks, Masterpieces of Music (Erudition).https://bachtrack.com/files/48463-faust-atalla-ayan-adam-palka-stuttgart-c-thomas-aurin-resized.jpg510340Atalla Ayan (Faust) and Adam Palka (Méphistophélès)Thomas Aurin2016-Oct-30, Staatsoper Stuttgart: Fausthttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/staatsoper-stuttgart/faust/30-october-2016/18-002016-10-302017-01-30Staatsoper StuttgartStuttgartBaden-WürttembergGermany70173Upper Schlossgarten 648.7805119.1859181https://www.oper-stuttgart.com/schedule/2016-10-30/faust-gounod/?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/46331-oper-stuttgart.jpg5
2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-08-01UTC10:15:12+00:002016-08-01Frank Castorf's controversial but supremely well-cast Ring cycle is provocative to the last.Twilight zone: Bayreuth's Ring ends with a stirring Götterdämmerungen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-gotterdammerung-castorf-vinke-foster-bayreuth-july-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMatthew Ryehttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/files/24809-matthew_rye.jpgMatthew read music at Oxford and has worked in music journalism for 30 years as a writer, critic and editor. He has written numerous programme and CD booklet notes, spent 13 years as a Daily Telegraph critic, worked at BBC Music Magazine and was reviews editor of The Strad, for which he continues to write. He also writes for The Wagner Journal and Opera Now and blogs at ferneklang.blogspot.co.uk. He was general editor of 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die (Cassell Illustrated, 2007) and is the author of a new series of eBooks, Masterpieces of Music (Erudition).https://bachtrack.com/files/43379-gotterdammerung-stephanie-houtzeel-christiane-kohl-wiebke-lehmkuhl-bayreuth-2016-enrico-nawrath-resized.jpg510340Stephanie Houtzeel, Christiane Kohl and Wiebke Lehmkuhl (Norns)Enrico Nawrath2016-Jul-31, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Götterdämmerunghttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/gotterdammerung/31-july-2016/16-002016-07-312016-08-25Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.57926http://ticketshop.bayreuther-festspiele.de/en?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/38521-bayreuther-festspiele-logo.jpg4
2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-08-01UTC09:54:45+00:002016-07-31Visual references both incongruous and perceptive abound in the third instalment of Bayreuth's musically triumphant Ring cycle.Croc work: Siegfried teases at Bayreuthen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-siegfried-castorf-vinke-foster-bayreuth-july-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMatthew Ryehttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/files/24809-matthew_rye.jpgMatthew read music at Oxford and has worked in music journalism for 30 years as a writer, critic and editor. He has written numerous programme and CD booklet notes, spent 13 years as a Daily Telegraph critic, worked at BBC Music Magazine and was reviews editor of The Strad, for which he continues to write. He also writes for The Wagner Journal and Opera Now and blogs at ferneklang.blogspot.co.uk. He was general editor of 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die (Cassell Illustrated, 2007) and is the author of a new series of eBooks, Masterpieces of Music (Erudition).https://bachtrack.com/files/43370-siegfried-stefan-vinke-ana-durlovski-bayreuth-2016-enrico-nawrath-resized.jpg510340Stefan Vinke (Siegfried) and Ana Durlovski (Woodbird)Enrico Nawrath2016-Jul-29, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Siegfriedhttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/siegfried/29-july-2016/16-002016-07-292016-08-23Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.57926http://ticketshop.bayreuther-festspiele.de/en?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/38521-bayreuther-festspiele-logo.jpg4
2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-07-28UTC21:44:19+00:002016-07-28Singing, orchestral playing and scenic portrayal all combine to make a highly memorable second instalment of Wagner's Ring.Magic fire: a blazing account of Die Walküre at Bayreuthen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-bayreuth-die-walkure-sarah-connolly-marek-janowski-july-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMatthew Ryehttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/files/24809-matthew_rye.jpgMatthew read music at Oxford and has worked in music journalism for 30 years as a writer, critic and editor. He has written numerous programme and CD booklet notes, spent 13 years as a Daily Telegraph critic, worked at BBC Music Magazine and was reviews editor of The Strad, for which he continues to write. He also writes for The Wagner Journal and Opera Now and blogs at ferneklang.blogspot.co.uk. He was general editor of 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die (Cassell Illustrated, 2007) and is the author of a new series of eBooks, Masterpieces of Music (Erudition).https://bachtrack.com/files/43193-wal-180716-405-enriconawrath-presse.jpg510340Heidi Melton (Sieglinde) and Christopher Ventris (Siegmund)Enrico Nawrath2016-Jul-27, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Die Walkürehttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/die-walkure/27-july-2016/16-002016-07-272016-08-21Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.57926http://ticketshop.bayreuther-festspiele.de/en?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/38521-bayreuther-festspiele-logo.jpg5
2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2016-07-27UTC11:27:09+00:002016-07-27Bayreuth's controversial Ring returns with a new conductor and a refreshed cast.Rheingold refuelled: Frank Castorf’s Ring returns to Bayreuthen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-bayreuth-rheingold-sarah-connolly-iain-paterson-castorf-july-2016Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngMatthew Ryehttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/19100https://bachtrack.com/files/24809-matthew_rye.jpgMatthew read music at Oxford and has worked in music journalism for 30 years as a writer, critic and editor. He has written numerous programme and CD booklet notes, spent 13 years as a Daily Telegraph critic, worked at BBC Music Magazine and was reviews editor of The Strad, for which he continues to write. He also writes for The Wagner Journal and Opera Now and blogs at ferneklang.blogspot.co.uk. He was general editor of 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die (Cassell Illustrated, 2007) and is the author of a new series of eBooks, Masterpieces of Music (Erudition).https://bachtrack.com/files/43135-myimage.jpg300450Iain Paterson (Wotan)Jörg Schulze2016-Jul-26, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Das Rheingoldhttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/das-rheingold/26-july-2016/18-002016-07-262016-08-20Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.57926http://ticketshop.bayreuther-festspiele.de/en?utm_medium=display&utm_source=bachtrack.comhttps://bachtrack.com/files/38521-bayreuther-festspiele-logo.jpg4
At the end, there was a profusion of boos and applause for the creative team: Castorf and co had given us a Ring cycle that was by turns infuriatingly indulgent, interestingly provocative, visually beautiful, puzzling and rewarding.
2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-08-03UTC16:36:29+00:002015-08-02At the end, there was a profusion of boos and applause for the creative team: Castorf and co had given us a Ring cycle that was by turns infuriatingly indulgent, interestingly provocative, visually beautiful, puzzling and rewarding.But what does it all mean? Castorf’s visually stylish Götterdämmerung brings no resolutionen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-gotterdammerung-castorf-bayreuth-august-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Larkinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/944https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/944https://bachtrack.com/files/135-dl_photo.jpgDavid is a lecturer at the University of Sydney, specialising in nineteenth-century music. Educated at Dublin and Cambridge, he has published on Richard Strauss, Liszt and Wagner. He gives pre-concert talks for the Sydney Symphony, and sings with a number of chamber choirs.https://bachtrack.com/files/26764-gotterdammerung_vinke_rutigliano_hagen_lapkovskaja_bayreuth_nawrath_2015_resized.jpg510374Stefan Vinke (Siegfried), Julia Rutigliano, Mirella Hagen and Anna Lapkovskaja (Rhinemaidens)Bayreuther Festspiele | Enrico Nawrath2015-Aug-01, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Götterdämmerunghttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/gotterdammerung/01-august-2015/16-002015-08-012015-08-26Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.579264
Castorf's anarchic take on Siegfried pushes well beyond his treatment of the earlier parts of the Ring, and not all the heroics from Stefan Vinke, Wolfgang Koch and Catherine Foster can rescue the evening.
2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-08-03UTC09:09:52+00:002015-08-02Castorf's anarchic take on Siegfried pushes well beyond his treatment of the earlier parts of the Ring, and not all the heroics from Stefan Vinke, Wolfgang Koch and Catherine Foster can rescue the evening.Fashionable crocs? Postmodern games in Castorf’s Siegfrieden_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-siegfried-vinke-foster-bayreuth-july-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Larkinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/944https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/944https://bachtrack.com/files/135-dl_photo.jpgDavid is a lecturer at the University of Sydney, specialising in nineteenth-century music. Educated at Dublin and Cambridge, he has published on Richard Strauss, Liszt and Wagner. He gives pre-concert talks for the Sydney Symphony, and sings with a number of chamber choirs.https://bachtrack.com/files/26757-siegfried_foster_vinke_crocodile_bayreuth_enrico_nawrath_2015_resized.jpg510338Catherine Foster (Brünnhilde) and Stefan Vinke (Siegfried)Bayreuther Festspiele | Enrico Nawrath2015-Jul-30, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Siegfriedhttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/siegfried/30-july-2015/16-002015-07-302015-08-24Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.579262
Frank Castorf's Soviet-era farm-setting does not obtrude on the emotional core of Wagner's Die Walküre, with excellent performances from Johan Botha, Anja Kampe and Claudia Mahnke, with superlative playing from the Festival Orchestra.
2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-07-30UTC10:05:34+00:002015-07-29Frank Castorf's Soviet-era farm-setting does not obtrude on the emotional core of Wagner's Die Walküre, with excellent performances from Johan Botha, Anja Kampe and Claudia Mahnke, with superlative playing from the Festival Orchestra.Die Walküre at Bayreuth: the triumph of love over spectacleen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-walkure-bayreuth-festival-july-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Larkinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/944https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/944https://bachtrack.com/files/135-dl_photo.jpgDavid is a lecturer at the University of Sydney, specialising in nineteenth-century music. Educated at Dublin and Cambridge, he has published on Richard Strauss, Liszt and Wagner. He gives pre-concert talks for the Sydney Symphony, and sings with a number of chamber choirs.https://bachtrack.com/files/26613-walkure_botha_kampe_bayreuth_enrico_nawrath_resized.jpg300452Johan Botha (Siegmund) and Anja Kampe (Sieglinde)Bayreuther Festspiele | Enrico Nawrath2015-Jul-28, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Die Walkürehttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/die-walkure/28-july-2015/16-002015-07-282015-08-22Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.579264
The first installment of Frank Castorf's controversial Ring is applauded on its 2015 revival at Bayreuth, but arguably the incessant visual action detracts from the appreciation of the music.
2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2015-07-30UTC15:17:20+00:002015-07-29The first installment of Frank Castorf's controversial Ring is applauded on its 2015 revival at Bayreuth, but arguably the incessant visual action detracts from the appreciation of the music. Overly busy Castorf Rheingold distracts from the music at Bayreuthen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-rheingold-castorf-petrenko-bayreuth-festival-july-2015Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Larkinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/944https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/944https://bachtrack.com/files/135-dl_photo.jpgDavid is a lecturer at the University of Sydney, specialising in nineteenth-century music. Educated at Dublin and Cambridge, he has published on Richard Strauss, Liszt and Wagner. He gives pre-concert talks for the Sydney Symphony, and sings with a number of chamber choirs.https://bachtrack.com/files/26542-rheingold_koch_dohmen_daszak_bayreuth_2015_enrico_nawrath_resized.jpg510336Wolfgang Koch (Wotan), Albert Dohmen (Alberich) and John Daszak (Loge)Bayreuther Festspiele | Enrico Nawrath2015-Jul-27, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Das Rheingoldhttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/das-rheingold/27-july-2015/18-002015-07-272015-08-21Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.579263
2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2014-09-18UTC11:24:57+00:002014-08-28Attila Jun's outstanding Hagen and Catherine Foster's sublime Brünnhilde light up the last episode of Frank Castorf's puzzling Ring.From kebab shop to the New York Stock Exchange: Attila Jun stars in Bayreuth's Götterdämmerungen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-gotterdammerung-bayreuth-august-2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Karlinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/files/40449-david-karlin.jpgDavid is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.https://bachtrack.com/files/6399-gotterdammerung_kebab_shop.jpg620409Attila Jun as Hagen in act II gathering of clansBayreuther Festspiele / Enrico Nawrath2014-Aug-01, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Götterdämmerunghttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/gotterdammerung/01-august-2014/16-002014-08-012014-08-27Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.579264
Catherine Foster's Brünnhilde bathes Bayreuth's Siegfried in a warm glow, while Wolfgang Koch sings a superb Wanderer. But director Frank Castorf does his best to subvert both.
2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2014-08-28UTC11:50:10+00:002014-08-26Catherine Foster's Brünnhilde bathes Bayreuth's Siegfried in a warm glow, while Wolfgang Koch sings a superb Wanderer. But director Frank Castorf does his best to subvert both.Wagner and Verfremdungseffekt: outstanding singing and subversive direction in Bayreuth's Siegfrieden_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-siegfried-bayreuth-august-2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Karlinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/files/40449-david-karlin.jpgDavid is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.https://bachtrack.com/files/6373-wanderer_siegfried.jpg322480Lance Ryan as Siegfried, Wolfgang Koch as the WandererBayreuther Festspiele / Enrico Nawrath2014-Jul-30, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Siegfriedhttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/siegfried/30-july-2014/16-002014-07-302014-08-25Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.579263
2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2014-08-28UTC11:49:37+00:002014-08-24Kirill Petrenko starts Die Walküre with a flourish as Frank Castorf’s staging takes us back to the Baku oilfields in late tsarist Russia.Back to Baku: Die Walküre in Bayreuthen_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-die-walkure-bayreuth-august-2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Karlinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/files/40449-david-karlin.jpgDavid is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.https://bachtrack.com/files/6345-walkure_ride_of_the_valkiries.jpg620414Ride of the ValkyriesBayreuther Festspiele / Enrico Nawrath2014-Jul-28, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Die Walkürehttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/die-walkure/28-july-2014/16-002014-07-282014-08-23Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.579263
In this second year of Bayreuth's bicentennial Der Ring, Oleg Bryjak shines as an outstanding Alberich. Frank Castorf's production is striking but as yet incomprehensible.
2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.png2014-08-28UTC11:50:39+00:002014-08-23In this second year of Bayreuth's bicentennial Der Ring, Oleg Bryjak shines as an outstanding Alberich. Frank Castorf's production is striking but as yet incomprehensible.Oleg Bryjak impresses in Frank Castorf's striking, tawdry and generally baffling Das Rheingolden_GBtruehttps://bachtrack.com/review-das-rheingold-frank-castorf-bayreuth-august-2014Bachtrack Ltdhttps://bachtrack.com/themes/bachtrack2013/mastheadlogo.pngDavid Karlinhttps://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/22/270/list-published/3https://bachtrack.com/files/40449-david-karlin.jpgDavid is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.https://bachtrack.com/files/6343-erda_enrico_nawrath.jpg620409From left: Wolfgang Koch as Wotan, Nadine Weissman as Erda plus giantsBayreuther Festspiele / Enrico Nawrath2014-Jul-27, Bayreuther Festspielhaus: Das Rheingoldhttps://bachtrack.com/opera-listing/bayreuther-festspielhaus/das-rheingold/27-july-2014/18-002014-07-272014-08-22Bayreuther FestspielhausBayreuthBavariaGermany95445Festspielhügel 249.9600211.579263