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

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“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

The triumph of virtue: Rossini’s Cenerentola in Brisbane

Sandra Bowdler, 29th April

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

****1

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.

**111

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.

*****

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

More reviews...

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.