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A monolithic Nabucco at Dutch National Opera
A promising cast on paper is scuppered by a banal, monotonous production and uninspired conducting.
Strong singing as The Met revives Massenet’s Manon
Laurent Pelly’s darkly stylish production of Manon is revived with a strong cast of singers. In the title role, Lisette Oropesa demonstrated elegant and incisive singing, while Michael Fabiano was her virile and powerful partner.
“Let them eat cake!” A revolutionary Barbiere at DNO
Lotte de Beer’s Il barbiere di Siviglia for Dutch National Opera seems a surprisingly traditional spectacle... although it does come with a twist.
A gaudy stand-and-sing Semiramide at the Met
Despite a great cast, the Metropolitan Opera's revival of Semiramide bores with tacky costumes and no direction.
Herheim’s lavish Vêpres siciliennes returns
A mural depicting Etna erupting is the only hint of Sicily in Stefan Herheim’s opulent staging, returning to Covent Garden for the first time since the Royal Opera’s Verdi bicentenary celebrations in 2013.
Ekaterina Bakanova a touchingly fragile Violetta
Two years ago, Russian soprano Ekaterina Bakanova was thrust into her Royal Opera debut, stepping in at short notice as Violetta. Her triumph was enough for the powers that be to offer her a run of five performances this month.
