Boulanger, Debussy and Puccini with Nelsons, Opolais, and the BSO

By Kevin Wells, 24 February 2019

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“The BSO performed the opera as if it were an old friend... with precision, transparency, and colors”

Reviewed at Symphony Hall, Boston on 21 February 2019

Boulanger, D'un soir triste

Debussy, Nocturnes, L 91

Puccini, Suor Angelica (Concert performance)

Andris Nelsons, Conductor

Kristine Opolais, Suor Angelica

Violeta Urmana, La zia principessa

Fatma Said, Suor Genovieffa

Dana Beth Miller, La badessa

Mary Ann McCormick, La suora zelatrice

Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Boston Symphony Children's Choir

Boston Symphony Orchestra

Lorelei Ensemble

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Margarita Gritskova leads a fine ensemble performance of Rossini’s most under-appreciated opera by Opera Queensland.

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Grigolo shines in a mixed new Roméo et Juliette at the Opera di Roma

Pia Maltri, 28th April

With its 1940s setting, Luca Del Fusco’s direction alienates in a new production of Gounod's Shakespeare-inspired opera.

***11

Romeo Castellucci directs a new Pelléas et Mélisande at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 26th April

The Italian director makes his long-awaited Italian operatic debut at the Teatro alla Scala in a production which perfectly mirrors Debussy’s most enigmatic creation.

****1

Chiaroscuro extinguished: a self-indulgent Poppea in Copenhagen

Mengguang Huang, 26th April

Christoph Marthaler’s staging of Monteverdi’s Poppea for the Royal Danish Opera is a study in boredom.

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Wretches like us: the LPO’s concert Wozzeck cuts to the quick

Peter Quantrill, 25th April

Beautifully prepared singing and playing brings out the tender side to Berg's modernist classic as part of the Southbank Centre’s Multitudes festival.

****1

Lepage’s Bluebeard and Erwartung pairing remains compelling theatre

John Gilks, 25th April

Some 30 years after its first appearance, Robert Lepage’s double bill of Duke Bluebeards Castle and Erwartung is still strikingly effective and very modern-looking music theatre.

*****

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Kevin Wells

Kevin Wells was bitten by the opera bug at 10, having heard a 1936 recording of Jussi Björling singing “Che gelida manina”. He has never been the same since. A student of voice, performance practice, the history of singing and opera, he holds advanced degrees in Italian and has lived and worked in Italy off and on since the 70s. La Scala became a second home as the Met had been during college daze. Now in his native Boston, he works as translator, tutor, and language coach, haunts Symphony Hall, and would haunt the Opera House had it not been demolished in 1958!

Twilight raptures: Boulanger, Debussy and Suor Angelica with Nelsons, Opolais, and the BSO