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

L'Orfeo, the world's first great opera, premieres at Glyndebourne

Roy Westbrook, 14th June

One element of the Orpheus myth is about creativity, so at Glyndebourne, William Kentridge sets Monteverdi's opera in an artist's studio,

****1

Aldeburgh Festival dives in at the deep end with Pelléas and Mélisande

Eleanor Knight, 12th June

Rory Kinnear directs a minimally semi-staged performance of Debussy's problematic opera at Snape Maltings, but Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBC Scottish SO provide the detail.

****1

Darkness without passion: Damiano Michieletto’s Carmen at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 12th June

Despite Michieletto's visual gloom, the evening is redeemed by Myung-whun Chung’s masterful conducting and a cast that brings conviction to a production that rarely trusts the opera’s own dramatic power.

**111

Monteverdi and Ulisse return happily to Garsington Opera

David Karlin, 12th June

Laurence Cummings and John Caird’s second Garsington exploration of the operas of Monteverdi brims with wonderfully playing and singing in an attractive setting.

****1

A thrilling Slavic Iolanta from Chișinău

Peter Quantrill, 11th June

Young voices shine in Tchaikovsky's last opera in a new and rustic updating by Moldovan director Slava Sambriș.

****1

McVicar’s Figaro celebrates its 20th Royal Opera anniversary

Dominic Lowe, 8th June

While this revival is imperfect, the Cherubino of Svetlina Stoyanova proves a marvel to hear.

***11

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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