René Jacobs and the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin triumph with Agrippina in Paris

By Vesna Gerintes, 22 May 2013

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Reviewed at Salle Pleyel, Paris on 14 May 2013

Handel, Agrippina

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin

René Jacobs, Conductor

Alexandrina Pendatchanska, Agrippina

Marcos Fink, Claudio

Sunhae Im, Poppea

Jennifer Rivera, Nerone

Bejun Mehta, Ottone

Christian Senn, Pallante

Dominique Visse, Narciso

Gyula Orendt, Lesbo

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Mengguang Huang, 1st January

Cavalli’s Messa concertata and Venetian polychoral masterpieces shine in Berlin’s Philharmonie, with a heartfelt, immersive New Year’s experience of ritual grandeur and warmth.

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A compelling concert from the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin in Dublin

Andrew Larkin, 7th May

The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin delivers an exciting concert of early Classical works from Mozart, Haydn, Gluck and Telemann.

****1

Spinning the Wheel of Fortune: Vivaldi's Il Giustino in Berlin

Elena Luporini, 20th November

A new production of Vivaldi's Byzantine opera Il Giustino charms Berlin, thanks to René Jacobs' exemplary conducting and a top-level cast led by Christophe Dumaux.

****1

A gripping Return of Ulysses from Opera Collective Ireland

Andrew Larkin, 7th September

Fine singing all round, sensitive continuo musicianship and dramatic action make for a thoroughly enjoyable Return of Ulysses by Monteverdi.

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A heavy crown: austere Monteverdi at the Staatsoper

Hugo Shirley, 13th December

The Staatsoper's new L'incoronazione di Poppea is serious, intelligent but short on fire.

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Silver threads and golden needles

Mark Thomas, 29th June

Isabelle Faust joined the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin in finely honed performances of Bach violin concertos and a rarely performed version of an orchestral suite.

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Vesna Gerintes

Based in Paris, Vesna is a cultural critic, an enthusiastic choral singer and baroque music lover. She tweets here and blogs under the name holychic.