BarokOpera Amsterdam premières a hilarious romp through history with Henry Purcell

By Kristen Huebner, 07 February 2013

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Reviewed at De Flint, Amersfoort on 6 February 2013

Unknown, Purcell Gala II: William and Mary

Barok Opera Amsterdam

Frédérique Chauvet, Conductor

Sybrand van der Werf, Director

Wendy Roobol, Soprano

Gunther Vandeven, Countertenor

Mattijs Hoogendijk, Tenor

Pieter Hendriks, Bass

What happened after Dido died? BarokOpera Amsterdam’s Dido and Aeneas

Sanne Thierens, 16th March

BarokOpera Amsterdam tells Virigil’s tale of Aeneas’ travels through the underworld in an extended version of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.

****1

The triumph of virtue: Rossini’s Cenerentola in Brisbane

Sandra Bowdler, 29th April

Margarita Gritskova leads a fine ensemble performance of Rossini’s most under-appreciated opera by Opera Queensland.

****1

Grigolo shines in a mixed new Roméo et Juliette at the Opera di Roma

Pia Maltri, 28th April

With its 1940s setting, Luca Del Fusco’s direction alienates in a new production of Gounod's Shakespeare-inspired opera.

***11

Romeo Castellucci directs a new Pelléas et Mélisande at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 26th April

The Italian director makes his long-awaited Italian operatic debut at the Teatro alla Scala in a production which perfectly mirrors Debussy’s most enigmatic creation.

****1

Chiaroscuro extinguished: a self-indulgent Poppea in Copenhagen

Mengguang Huang, 26th April

Christoph Marthaler’s staging of Monteverdi’s Poppea for the Royal Danish Opera is a study in boredom.

**111

Lepage’s Bluebeard and Erwartung pairing remains compelling theatre

John Gilks, 25th April

Some 30 years after its first appearance, Robert Lepage’s double bill of Duke Bluebeards Castle and Erwartung is still strikingly effective and very modern-looking music theatre.

*****

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Kristen Huebner

Originally from the USA, Kristen Huebner now bases her musical life in the Netherlands and Europe. She currently tours with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir under the direction of Ton Koopman and has collaborated alongside members of the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century under Frans Brüggen. Her work with the Paris-based Ensemble Diderot, has led to numerous appearances at festivals such as Musikfest Erzgebirge and the Bach Biennale Weimar. Kristen’s research on Empfindsamkeit in the chamber music of C.P.E. Bach has been adapted into an article for Music & Practice, published in 2015. Kristen joined the teaching team at the 2022 Zomer Academie Zutphen, where she led the traverso masterclass.