Ukranian Mezzo wins Handel Singing Competition

By Nahoko Gotoh, 19 March 2012

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Reviewed at St George's, Hanover Square, London on 15 March 2012

Anna Starushkevych, Mezzo-soprano

Alexander Sprague, Tenor

Raphaela Papadakis, Soprano

Anna Gorbachyova, Soprano

Niel Joubert, Tenor

Lucy Hill, Soprano

Elisa Verzier commands Tom Cairns’ iconic Traviata at Glyndebourne

Eleanor Knight, 13th October

Elisa Verzier, making her Glyndebourne debut, is astonishing as Violetta in a revival of Tom Cairns' 2014 production.

****1

Beware of what you wish for: The Makropulos Affair at WNO

David Karlin, 16th September

Olivia Fuchs gives a powerful staging of Janáček's morality tale of the perils of eternal youth, with an excellent cast, but there are reservations about the title role.

****1

Grief compellingly explored: Die tote Stadt at Longborough

David Karlin, 27th June

An outstanding performance from Rachel Nicholls lights up Carmen Jakobi's compelling production of Korngold's exploration of grief.

****1

EIF closes in style with a terrific Ariadne auf Naxos

David Smythe, 25th August

Memorable role debuts from Dorothea Röschmann, David Butt Philip and Catriona Morison make Ariadne auf Naxos with the RSNO and Lothar Koenigs a night to savour.

****1

WNO tackles Vêpres but the vocal fireworks fail to ignite

Mark Pullinger, 8th February

David Pountney completes his “Verdi trilogy” for the company but although his staging has fluidity, it lacks an explosive ending... and the vocal performances disappoint.

***11

It's grim up North: a heartbreaking Katya Kabanova in Leeds

David Karlin, 2nd February

Tim Albery's production for Opera North is well sung and superbly acted, involving us deeply in Janáček's tragic family drama.

****1

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Nahoko Gotoh

Nahoko is a UK-based Japanese music journalist with a background in musicology. She writes regularly for various Japanese media including Ongaku no tomo and Mostly Classic magazines.