Giulio Cesare in Amsterdam: Lawrence Zazzo came, sang and conquered

Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria tells one of the world’s great stories. This production is a treat for early opera fans and a great introduction for those new to the genre.

An updated Orfeo and Eurydice at Buxton sees Orpheus as an ageing rocker, too distracted by adoring groupies to notice Eurydice. However, one piece of casting was an unsolvable conundrum. 

The version of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice sung last night at the Cadogan Hall was based on the original Italian version (1762) but included elements of a later French version. The various parts of nymphs, shepherds, Furies etc. were all sung by the ~150 strong London Concert Choir who produced a rich and well balanced sound which supported the main action very well.

Sur le fond comme sur la forme, le chef-d'œuvre inachevé de Mozart dirigé par Leonardo García Alarcón laisse sur sa faim, malgré l'implication des forces de l'Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.

Paul Agnew tire le meilleur de ses Arts Florissants au Festival d’Ambronay, dans les madrigaux audacieux de Schütz comme dans quatre plus classiques Cantates de Bach.

Spécialistes de la musique ancienne, les Musiciens du Louvre, amenés par Marc Minkowski annonçaient une Passion selon Saint Jean des plus intéressantes à la Halle.