Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Martin Šrejma

The director drains the life out of an impassioned opera with a staging devoid of authenticity and ideas.

Puccini's classic takes on a harsh contemporary edge in a dark treatment by director Sláva Daubnerová at Prague's National Theatre. 

Jakub Hrůsa, the Czech Philharmonic and a superb cast of singers give the full treatment to Smetana’s celebratory paean to the Czech nation.

Glorious music and excellent singing can't mask a simplistic staging of Smetana's last opera, an uneasy combination of rom-com and medieval legend. 

Aided by spirited singers and enthusiastic musicians, director Ondřej Havelka brings an imaginative, ironic touch to a lesser-known Smetana opera.

Adding a prequel to Gianni Schicchi mostly proves that a prequel isn't necessary... 

Armida offers a compelling story, resonant issues and the spectacle of dueling wizards – but unfortunately, not in this production.

The Spanish director's emotionally-sapped staging for the Prague National Theatre travels to Brno for the Janáček Festival.

The National Theater revives Jaromír Weinberger opera Schwanda the Bagpiper with energy, affection and overly active imagination.

All the energy is in the pit in this flat production of a time-honored favorite.

A talented cast labors under the yoke of a gender-conscious Così fan tutte in a new production at the Estates Theatre. 

Lively singing saves Magdalena Švecová's listless production of Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Národní divadlo.

Slovak director Zuzana Gilhuus' serendipitous production could hardly be more timely.

José Cura shines as a designer but brings surprisingly little staging expertise to his latest directorial effort.

Prague's National Theater wraps its season with a wickedly funny revival of Offenbach's audacious operetta.

Whilst the spirit of Mozart permeates the Estates Theatre in Prague, it was sadly absent in both the staging and singing of his “work of uninterrupted perfection”.  

With a Slovak team at the helm, the National Theater offers a smart, fresh take on a familiar story.

Despite some staging problems, a Czech rarity gives the National Theater's new opera season a rousing start, with a vibrant score beautifully realized by conductor John Fiore.

Seeing Don Giovanni at the Estates Theatre in Prague is a special occasion, for two reasons. Firstly, for the history: it’s the theatre where the opera was first performed, back in 1787. Secondly, because today’s Estates Theatre is one of the loveliest opera houses you will find anywhere. Seating just 643, it’s an intimate space, in the classic horseshoe parterre-plus-boxes configuration.