In March 2022 Bachtrack reviewed 154 events in 60 cities:
Here are ten reviews in English you shouldn't miss, according to our Editor:
Ariadne auf Naxos in New York
The Norwegian soprano is acclaimed at the Met in Richard Strauss' mash-up of commedia dell'arte and tragic opera.
“then, Lise Davidsen, our Ariadne, opens up and it's as if the room has a pulse”
Joyce DiDonato and Il Pomo d’Oro in Vienna
Pageantry abounds as the popular mezzo-soprano turns the Konzerthaus Wien into a sort of classical music, multisensory varieté.
“the evening held together... because it felt honest behind all its trappings, not gimmicky”
The Hours in Philadelphia
Despite beautifully realized performances from Renée Fleming and Kelli O'Hara, Kevin Puts' opera is still finding its voice.
“Fleming injected a fair amount of flint into her customary warmth”
Der ferne Klang in Prague
Franz Schreker's innovative study of artistic aspiration and despair gets a fresh look and loving musical treatment.
“the visuals are compelling but incongruous, a phantasmic detour”
The Czech Philharmonic and Semyon Bychkov in London
There could be no more appropriate choice than the Glagolitic Mass, with its text of Old Church Slavonic, for a concert which Bychkov had dedicated to the people of Ukraine.
“blazoned forth by Czech trumpets and horns, the steely strings following with their urgent rhythm”
Turandot in Rome
The controversial artist stages his first opera in Rome, with strong musical performances under dynamic Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv.
“Lyniv's reading was analytical but at the same time highly expressive”
La Bayadère in Oslo
Norwegian National Ballet opened its new run of Natalia Makarova’s staging, with Whitney Jensen and Lania Atkins making outstanding impressions as Nikiya and Gamzatti.
“each position that reminded us that to be a ballerina, is to be a living art form”
Peter Grimes in London
Deborah Warner's intelligent new Covent Garden staging provides the perfect backdrop for a strong singing cast in Britten's maritime masterpiece.
“never have I seen a lynch mob presented so terrifyingly on an operatic stage”
Jewels in Milan
Balanchine’s sparkling ballet reveals Manuel Legris’ vision for the Milanese company.
“a tangible joy of dancing and a lively, exhilarating energy spread from the stage”
La Juive in Sydney
187 years after its Parisian debut, Halévy's La Juive receives its Australian premiere. A sterling cast under Carlo Montanaro reveals some unexpected beauties (and occasional longueurs) in this classic of French grand opéra.
“the title role was sung with passion by Natalie Aroyan”
Click here to read all of our reviews in English, French, German and Spanish.
