Two classic stories, refreshed with humour in an engrossing bill

Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Ella Rothschild's Petroesjka

Opera Ballet Vlaanderen in Jeroen Verbruggen's Die sieben Todsünden

By Vikki Jane Vile, 18 December 2023

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“opera and dance feature equally, full of gaudy humour, pacy storytelling and brash colours”

Reviewed at Opera Vlaanderen, Ghent, Ghent on 16 December 2023

Seven Deadly Sins (Jeroen Verbruggen)

Petrushka (Ella Rothschild)

Opera Ballet Vlaanderen

Alejo Pérez, Conductor

Eva Veronica Born, Set Designer

Teresa Vergho, Costume Designer

Symfonisch Orkest Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Lighting Designer

David Stockholm, Lighting Designer

Tom Swaak, Dramaturgy

Tai Yahas, Dramaturgy

Sara Jo Benoot, Mezzo-soprano

Lara Fransen, Dancer

Daniel Müller-Schott plays Tchaikovsky with the Sydney Symphony

Zoltán Szabó, 22nd October

A delightful programme welcomes conductor Lionel Bringuier and returning cellist Daniel Müller-Schott to Sydney.

****1

Canellakis brings sparkle and shine to Stravinsky and Bernstein

Simon Thompson, 21st August

Karina Canellakis brings a riot of Technicolor to the Edinburgh International Festival, but countertenor Hugh Cutting threatens to steal the show in Chichester Psalms.

****1

Welser-Möst and The Cleveland Orchestra’s artistry at Carnegie Hall

Edward Sava-Segal, 19th March

For their second Carnegie Hall programme, The Cleveland Orchestra tackles Fate in Stravinsky's Petrushka and Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony.

****1

Klaus Mäkelä and the Orchestre de Paris paint vivid pictures in Vienna

Mark Pullinger, 23rd February

Maurice Ravel the orchestrator takes centre stage at the Musikverein in an evening of descriptive aural painting.

****1

Spotlight on the trumpet: Håkan Hardenberger and the BBC Phil

Peter Connors, 5th October

John Storgårds conducts the BBC Philharmonic in two colourful works for large orchestra, while Håkan Hardenberger demonstrates the versatility of the trumpet in two works, one familiar, the other not.

****1

Fresh and flamboyant: Mäkelä and the Orchestre de Paris at the Proms

Mark Thomas, 3rd September

Klaus Mäkelä presents fresh and dynamic takes on French masterpieces from Debussy and Berlioz, the Orchestre de Paris providing colour and vigour in Stravinsky.

*****

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Vikki Jane Vile

Vikki Jane Vile has been reviewing dance for over ten years, specialising in Ballroom and Ballet. In 2018, she became a member of the Critics' Circle for Dance. Vikki writes for BroadwayWorld and previously Dancing Times, LondonDance.com and CultureWhisper. She also prides herself on being a Strictly Come Dancing connoisseur since its inception and has appeared on BBC radio and several podcasts as an expert on all things Strictly. Having lived in London for ten years, she is now based in Germany and adapting to the Berlin dance scene.

Two classic stories, refreshed with humour in an engrossing double bill