Crowd-pleasers: Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky at the Jūrmala Festival

By Alexander Hall, 25 July 2019

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Reviewed at Dzintari Concert Hall: Great Hall, Jūrmala on 24 July 2019

Weber, Oberon: Overture

Mendelssohn, Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64

Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto no. 1 in B flat minor, Op.23

Kristīne Balanas, Violin

George Harliono, Piano

Ainārs Rubiķis, Conductor

Jurmala Festival Orchestra

A rustic Cavelleria rusticana at the Jūrmala Festival

Alexander Hall, 26th July

Mascagni's stirring music and gripping storyline cast their spell over a festival audience at the edge of the Baltic Sea.

****1

Kicking down the door: The Marriage of Figaro revived at ENO

Dominic Lowe, 5th February

ENO's revival features a striking performance from Mary Bevan as bride-to-be Susanna, but elements of the staging continue to raise eyebrows.

****1

Kosky's soufflé for Verdi's Falstaff falls flat in Berlin

Zenaida des Aubris, 30th April

A dearth of nuance affects this new production of Verdi's late masterpiece in Berlin, set in Sir John's gourmet kitchen.

**111

Sophocles as contemporary as ever as Œdipe opens at Komische Oper

Zenaida des Aubris, 29th August

Leigh Melrose appears in a strong new Œdipe directed by Evgeny Titov to open the 2021-22 season at the Komische Oper.

****1

Click bait: an effective new Traviata at the Komische Oper

Hugo Shirley, 1st December

Nicola Raab's production doesn't quite provide the bold rethinking it promises, but stylish execution and a fine cast make for an effective modern Traviata.

****1

Asmik Grigorian wows as Tatyana in Komische Oper Eugene Onegin

David Smythe, 15th August

Barrie Kosky’s visually stunning and very finely sung Eugene Onegin from Komische Oper reaches Edinburgh, a triumphant showcase for soprano Asmik Grigorian.

****1

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Alexander Hall

Alexander Hall divides his time between London and Hamburg, where he had a career in academic administration and teaching. He reviews for Bachtrack and Opera Today, and has also reviewed for Classical Source. A connoisseur of the great orchestras of the world, his musical memories stretch back to Karajan/Berlin Phil, Mravinsky/Leningrad Phil, Bernstein/Vienna Phil, and he has seen most of the great conductors from the past, including Böhm, Klemperer, Kubelik, Ormandy and Szell.