A terrifying Bluebeard's Castle and impromptu tribute at the BSO

Karen Cargill, Karina Canellakis and Nathan Berg

Alisa Weilerstein, Karina Canellakis and the Boston Symphony

By Cameron Kelsall, 11 February 2024

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“Canellakis built this castle into a cathedral of sound”

Reviewed at Symphony Hall, Boston on 9 February 2024

Bach, Air on a G String, from Orchestral Suite BWV1068

Haydn, Cello Concerto no. 1 in C major, Hob VIIb:1

Bartók, Duke Bluebeard's Castle (Concert performance)

Karina Canellakis, Conductor

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Nathan Berg, Bluebeard

Karen Cargill, Judith

Jeremiah Kissel, Prologue of the Bard

Alisa Weilerstein, Cello

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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Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall is a classical music critic and cultural reporter. He has written for Bachtrack since 2019, and his byline has appeared in many national and international classical music publications. Based in Philadelphia, he regularly travels around the United States for musical events. In addition to his career in journalism, Cameron also teaches in the Theatre Arts program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a certified sommelier and avid home cook. His favorite composer is Mahler. Twitter: @CameronPKelsall.

A terrifying Bluebeard's Castle and impromptu tribute to Ozawa at the Boston Symphony