René Jacobs' Ulisse zum Monteverdi-Jubiläum

By Jens Klier, 20 March 2017

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

Reviewed at Kölner Philharmonie, Cologne on 19 March 2017

Monteverdi, Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria (The Return of Ulysses to his Country), SV 325 (concert performance)

René Jacobs, Conductor

Stéphane Degout, Ulisse

Katarina Bradić, Penelope

Anicio Zorzi Giustiniani, Telemaco, Giove

Magnus Staveland, Anfinomo

Marcos Fink, Antinoo, Tempo

Pierre Derhet, Eurimaco

Mirella Hagen, Amor, Giunone

Thomas Walker, Eumete

Marie-Claude Chappuis, La Fortuna, Minerva

Kristina Hammarström, Melanto, L'umana fragilità, Ericlea

Jörg Schneider, Iro

Mark Milhofer, Pisandro

Jérôme Varnier, Neptuno

B'Rock Orchestra

Members of La Monnaie Chorus Academy

Mary-Ellen Nesi, Mezzo-soprano

A noble Norma trapped in a hollow dystopia

Andrew Larkin, 24th May

Salome Jicia delivers a vocally impressive and emotionally committed Norma, but Orpha Phelan’s post-apocalyptic staging fatally weakens Bellini’s sacred tragedy.

***11

A deli-cious revival of Rossini’s Il turco in Italia at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 23rd May

Mariame Clément’s production of Rossini's meta comedy is tightly revived with some excellent singing. Come for the writing tips, stay for the cured meats.

****1

Superb musical performances in Pinchgut's Scarlatti rarity in Sydney

Sandra Bowdler, 23rd May

As usual, Pinchgut lavishes musical excellence on an obscure Baroque work... but why stage an oratorio?

****1

The Met’s Frida y Diego proves visually stunning, musically thrilling

David Wolfson, 22nd May

Deborah Colker and her design team create visually vibrant worlds for the Met’s new production of El último sueño de Frida y Diego, by Pulitzer Prize winner Gabriela Lena Frank.

*****

Glyndebourne’s first Tosca: vocally strong but imperfect

David Karlin, 21st May

Ted Huffman brings some interesting ideas to his first Glyndebourne production. Excellent singing is let down by indifferent physical acting.

***11

Dudamel’s LA Phil Walküre proves worth the wait

Matthew Richard Martinez, 21st May

An enveloping performance of Die Walküre spans three consecutive evenings, featuring world class singing in Frank Gehry’s stunning space.

****1

More reviews...

Jens Klier

Vor seinem Rechtswissenschafts-Studium in Bayreuth und Bonn widmete sich Jens Klier seit frühester Kindheit musikalisch der Violine (Repertoire vom 17. bis 20. Jahrhundert). Während er zudem mit Gesang und dem Leben im Orchesterbetrieb groß wurde, entwickelte sich ein besonderes Interesse an der sogenannten 'Historischen Aufführungspraxis' und authentischen Instrumenten. Diese Leidenschaft hält sich hartnäckig, sodass er sie mit Vorliebe für das Barocke anstatt mit Finger und Bogen nun in Form der Musikkritik zu Gehör bringt. U.a. Telemann-Fan, Liebhaber J. S. Bachs Genies und Entdecker neuerer, seltenerer 'Alter Musik'.

Creatore di affetti musicali: René Jacobs' Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria zum 450. Geburtstag Monteverdis