A Haydn rarity: L’anima del filosofo at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival

Rolando Villazón

Gianluca Capuano and Les Musiciens du Prince

Thomas Hampson, Cecilia Bartoli, Rolando Villazón, Mélissa Petit and Gianluca Capuano

By Laura Servidei, 28 May 2023

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“Orfeo was Rolando Villazón, who approached the role with amazing panache, completely fearless”

Reviewed at Felsenreitschule, Salzburg on 27 May 2023

Haydn, L'anima del filosofo (concert performance)

Gianluca Capuano, Conductor

Les Musiciens du Prince – Monaco

Il Canto di Orfeo

Thomas Hampson, Baritone

Cecilia Bartoli, Mezzo-soprano

Rolando Villazón, Tenor

Mélissa Petit, Soprano

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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Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.