Magnificent climax to the Philharmonia Stravinsky series

By David Truslove, 03 October 2016

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“Sellars forged an intriguing link between the works”

Reviewed at Royal Festival Hall, London on 29 September 2016

Stravinsky, Oedipus Rex

Stravinsky, Symphony of Psalms

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor

Peter Sellars, Director

Katarina Dalayman, Jocasta

Joseph Kaiser, Oedipus

Joshua Stewart, Shepherd

Sir Willard White, Creon, Messenger, Tiresias

Philharmonia Orchestra

Ladies of the Gustaf Sjökvists Kammarkör

Ladies of the Sofia Vokalensemble

Emily Barber, Narrator

Laurel Jenkins, Dancer

Julia Bullock in Meditations for Joséphine at Adelaide Festival

Sandra Bowdler, 3rd March

A challenging depiction of Joséphine Baker brilliantly performed by Julia Bullock under the direction of Peter Sellars at the Adelaide Festival.

****1

Peter Sellars directs Italian debut of Kaija Saariaho’s Adriana Mater

Pia Maltri, 11th October

This co-production, previously seen in San Francisco, is more of a semi-staging, convinces thanks to committed performances from a cast led by Fleur Barron.

****1

Matthew Aucoin's Music for New Bodies at Lincoln Center

Kurt Gottschalk, 10th July

Aucoin, librettist Jorie Graham and director Peter Sellars make New Bodies more a haunting mood piece than a cautionary tale for the American Modern Opera Company.

****1

Bach cantatas, American spirituals, global calamity

Kurt Gottschalk, 21st May

The Gospel according to Peter Sellars: an intermingling of Bach’s cantatas and American spirituals depicts an environmental message that the impending end won’t be personal, but global.

***11

Light and shadows in Rattle and Sellars' Médée at Staatsoper Berlin

Elena Luporini, 19th November

Reuniting two old friends and collaborators, the Staatsoper Berlin presents a new production of Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Médée, with mixed results.

***11

An unlikely meeting of Morton Feldman and the blues

Kurt Gottschalk, 27th September

Sorey’s instrumentation mirrors Feldman’s Rothko Chapel in a moving evening of musical high drama at Park Avenue Armory.

*****

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David Truslove

After many years as a musician – conducting choirs, singing as a lay clerk at Winchester Cathedral and an involvement in education, David now writes programme notes, occasionally composes and enjoys a busy schedule of reviewing.