Life after love: a devastating La rondine from Pappano and the LSO

Michael Fabiano and Carolina López Moreno

Carolina López Moreno, Sir Antonio Pappano and the London Symphony Orchestra and Chorus

By Dominic Lowe, 11 December 2024

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“wafts of incense hazing across the Parisian landscape that he conjured so effortlessly”

Reviewed at Barbican Hall, London on 10 December 2024

Puccini, La rondine (concert performance with surtitles)

Sir Antonio Pappano, Conductor

London Symphony Orchestra

London Symphony Chorus

Carolina López Moreno, Magda

Serena Gamberoni, Lisette

Paul Appleby, Prunier

Michael Fabiano, Ruggero

Angela Schisano, Bianca

Sarah Dufresne, Yvette

Marvic Monreal, Suzy

Ashley Riches, Rambaldo

L’Orfeo, the world’s first great opera, premieres at Glyndebourne

Roy Westbrook, 14th June

One element of the Orpheus myth is about creativity, so at Glyndebourne, William Kentridge sets Monteverdi’s opera in an artist's studio,

****1

Darkness without passion: Damiano Michieletto’s Carmen at La Scala

Laura Servidei, 12th June

Despite Michieletto's visual gloom, the evening is redeemed by Myung-whun Chung’s masterful conducting and a cast that brings conviction to a production that rarely trusts the opera’s own dramatic power.

**111

Aldeburgh Festival dives in at the deep end with Pelléas et Mélisande

Eleanor Knight, 12th June

Rory Kinnear directs a minimally semi-staged performance of Debussy's problematic opera at Snape Maltings, but Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBC Scottish SO provide the detail.

****1

Monteverdi and Ulisse return happily to Garsington Opera

David Karlin, 12th June

Laurence Cummings and John Caird’s second Garsington exploration of the operas of Monteverdi brims with wonderfully playing and singing in an attractive setting.

****1

A thrilling Slavic Iolanta from Chișinău

Peter Quantrill, 11th June

Young voices shine in Tchaikovsky's last opera in a new and rustic updating by Moldovan director Slava Sambriș.

****1

McVicar’s Figaro celebrates its 20th Royal Opera anniversary

Dominic Lowe, 8th June

While this revival is imperfect, the Cherubino of Svetlina Stoyanova proves a marvel to hear.

***11

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Dominic Lowe

Dominic Lowe recently completed a degree in Classics, and one of his great interests is the reception of Greece and Rome in opera. A regular opera-goer since his very early teens, he is particularly keen on the hidden operatic gems of the 19th century. He is largely based in the South of England.