Highway to Hell: La Damnation de Faust in Berlin

By Christie Franke, 13 April 2015

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Reviewed at Philharmonie: Großer Saal, Berlin on 10 April 2015

Berlioz, La Damnation de Faust

Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor

Joyce DiDonato, Marguerite

Charles Castronovo, Faust

Florian Boesch, Brander

Ludovic Tézier, Méphistophélès

Berliner Philharmoniker

Rundfunkchor Berlin

Simon Halsey, Choirmaster / chorus director

Richard Jones’ clunky Samson et Dalila returns to Covent Garden

Dominic Lowe, 13th May

With Aigul Akhmetshina and Seokjong Baek in the title roles, there are reasons to be optimistic, but The Royal Opera’s revival of Richard Jones’ production is a mixed bag.

***11

Reality television: ENO’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester

Lawrence Dunn, 12th May

Kip Williams and ENO mount an extraordinary new production of Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s multifaceted opera, with performances of great emotional directness broadcast live on camera.

*****

Sir Thomas Allen’s Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

David Smythe, 9th May

A traditional Marriage of Figaro entertains with a strong cast, eye-catching design and lighting, and Amanda Holden’s earthy libretto.

****1

Sasha Cooke brings sharp intelligence to Seattle Opera’s Carmen

Thomas May, 8th May

Sasha Cooke’s thoughtful role debut anchors Paul Curran’s visually and musically alert but dramatically uneven production.

****1

Rossini’s Cenerentola proves great fun in Adelaide

Sandra Bowdler, 7th May

Neil Armfield’s production for State Opera South Australia combines a sparkling night of entertainment with first class musical values.

****1

Werther oozes quiet despair in new Canadian Opera Company staging

John Gilks, 7th May

Excellent performances cannot turn a conventional production of Massenet’s Werther into a dramatic experience for the 21st century.

***11

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Christie Franke

Christie Franke is a Berlin-based writer and opera lover. Her blog, Tiny Doom’s Opernpalais, chronicles her adventures as an opera-lover and writer, serving as discussion ground for character profiles, operatic plot holes, and the magic of music in everyday life.

Highway to Hell: La Damnation de Faust with the Berliner Philharmoniker