Diaghilev's opera-ballet Le Coq d'Or returns to life

By Margaret Willis, 09 July 2014

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“What better way to introduce the arts of opera and ballet in such a lively and enchanting way!”

Reviewed at The London Coliseum, London on 8 July 2014

Rimsky-Korsakov, Le Coq d'or (The Golden Cockerel)

Saisons Russes du XXI Siècle

Alevtina Ioffe, Conductor

Andris Liepa, Director

Natalia Goncharova, Set Designer

Petr Melentiev, Astrologer

Alexander Tsilinko, Tsar Dodon

Sergey Petrishchev, Prince Guidon

Denis Boldov, Prince Afron

Natalia Eliseeva, Amelfa

Nikolai Petrenko, General Polkan

Zarina Samadova, Golden Cockerel

Olesya Titenko, Queen of Shemakha

Moscow State Music Theatre Orchestra

Vocal splendour in Le Coq d’Or

Mark Pullinger, 8th July

On one level, Le Coq d’Or, Rimsky-Korsakov’s final opera, is a simple fairy tale. However, you don’t need to dig far to discover a biting satire, which was largely absent in this presentation by Les Saisons Russes du XXI Siècle.

***11

Vocal splendour in Le Coq d’Or

Mark Pullinger, 8th July

***11

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

Asmik Grigorian strengthens the Met’s revival of Eugene Onegin

Susan Stempleski, 20th April

The Lithuanian soprano’s riveting performance as the central character in Tchaikovsky’s operatic masterpiece lights up Deborah Warner’s mostly bland production.

****1

At half mast: Simon Boccanegra revived in Vienna

Orsolya Gyárfás, 19th April

Marco Armiliato's conducting thrills and Federica Lombardi's radiant Amelia stands out in the Wiener Staatsoper's latest revival of Simon Boccanegra.

***11

Anna Netrebko shines in Vienna’s timeless Tosca

Laura Servidei, 18th April

In a world where opera productions often stray into the abstract, the Wiener Staatsoper’s Tosca offers a refreshing return to tradition – and Anna Netrebko delivers a splendid performance.

****1

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Margaret Willis

Margaret studied ballet in Moscow for five years and later was a member of London City Ballet. A reviewer since 1978 for many newspapers and magazines including Dancing Times and Dance Magazine, Margaret is a specialist on Russian Ballet, and has written books on Russian Ballet and Carlos Acosta.