Astonishing Bartók from the BFO at Carnegie Hall

By Ako Imamura, 07 April 2019

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“more frightening than any violent outbursts in its quiet ferociousness”

Reviewed at Carnegie Hall: Stern Auditorium, New York City on 6 April 2019

Bartók, Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 68

Bartók, Hungarian Peasant Songs, Sz 100, BB 107

Bartók, Duke Bluebeard's Castle

Iván Fischer, Conductor

Ildikó Komlósi, Judith, Mezzo-soprano

Krisztián Cser, Bluebeard, Bass

Márta Sebestyén, Prologue of the Bard, Vocals

Budapest Festival Orchestra

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

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

Wretches like us: the LPO’s concert Wozzeck cuts to the quick

Peter Quantrill, 25th April

Beautifully prepared singing and playing brings out the tender side to Berg's modernist classic as part of the Southbank Centre’s Multitudes festival.

****1

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.

*****

Trojan’s Carousel: a magical night of dreams come true in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 23rd April

A vintage opera at the National Theatre offers charming adventures for children and musical sophistication for adults.

*****

A sorta fairy tale: Sleepers Awake premieres at Opera Philadelphia

Cameron Kelsall, 22nd April

A new opera by Gregory Spears subverts the Sleeping Beauty trope, with middling results.

**111

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Ako Imamura

Atsuko (Ako) Imamura is a retired investment banker in New York City. Born in Japan, she trained as cultural anthropologist in the US before turning to ﬁnance. She now spends her time attending opera and classical music concerts in New York and in Europe. Wagner is her favorite opera composer.

Iván Fischer and the Budapest Festival Orchestra deliver astonishing Bartók at Carnegie Hall