A staged Messiah that sheds little light on Handel's oratorio

By Mark Valencia, 02 June 2017

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“So at least we know where we’re starting from. It’s where we end up that’s the puzzle.”

Reviewed at Den Nationale Scene, Bergen on 1 June 2017

Handel, Messiah

Bergen National Opera

Bjarte Eike, Conductor

Netia Jones, Director, Set Designer

Malin Christensson, Soprano

Renata Pokupić, Mezzo-soprano

Pierre Derhet, Tenor

Igor Bakan, Bass

Barokksolistene

Edvard Grieg Choir

Cathedra

Michael McCarthy, Choirmaster / chorus director

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

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Mark Valencia

Mark has worked in arts journalism for four decades, both as a writer and as a French-English translator. Nowadays he focuses his energies on reviewing opera and music. Mark also writes for Opera magazine and for Musical America as a correspondent for Europe and the UK.