A truly kingly entertainment in Berkeley

By Ilana Walder-Biesanz, 29 April 2017

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“Everyone on the stage could sing with crisp French and turn a perfect trill”

Reviewed at UC Berkeley, Zellerbach Hall, Berkeley on 28 April 2017

Rameau, Le Temple de la Gloire (Modern Day Premiere, 1745 vers.)

The New York Baroque Dance Company

Nicholas McGegan, Conductor

Gabrielle Philiponet, Plautine

Aaron Sheehan, Apollo, Trajan

Artavazd Sargsyan, Bacchus

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale

Chantal Santon-Jeffery, Soprano

Camille Ortiz-Lafont, Soprano

Philippe-Nicolas Martin, Baritone

Marc Labonnette, Baritone

Philharmonia Chorale

Reality television: ENO’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester

Lawrence Dunn, 12th May

Kip Williams and ENO mount an extraordinary new production of Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s multifaceted opera, with performances of great emotional directness broadcast live on camera.

*****

Sir Thomas Allen’s Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

David Smythe, 9th May

A traditional Marriage of Figaro entertains with a strong cast, eye-catching design and lighting, and Amanda Holden’s earthy libretto.

****1

Sasha Cooke brings sharp intelligence to Seattle Opera’s Carmen

Thomas May, 8th May

Sasha Cooke’s thoughtful role debut anchors Paul Curran’s visually and musically alert but dramatically uneven production.

****1

Werther oozes quiet despair in new Canadian Opera Company staging

John Gilks, 7th May

Excellent performances cannot turn a conventional production of Massenet’s Werther into a dramatic experience for the 21st century.

***11

Rossini’s Cenerentola proves great fun in Adelaide

Sandra Bowdler, 7th May

Neil Armfield’s production for State Opera South Australia combines a sparkling night of entertainment with first class musical values.

****1

Welsh National Opera’s Dutchman docks in Birmingham

Rohan Shotton, 7th May

This bracing performance of The Flying Dutchman is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary musical standards which are at risk in the face of WNO’s subsidy cuts.

****1

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Ilana Walder-Biesanz

Ilana Walder-Biesanz is a product manager for Yahoo, a theatre and opera critic, and a classically trained mezzo-soprano. She explored theater and opera stagings as a Gates Scholar at Cambridge and as a Fulbright Scholar in Germany. She currently writes for Bachtrack, San Francisco Classical Voice, and Stark Insider. Twitter: @ilana_wb.

A truly kingly entertainment: Baroque beauty in Berkeley