Thoughtfully directed, superbly played

By David Karlin, 30 October 2016

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Reviewed at Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm on 29 October 2016

Adams, Nixon in China

Royal Swedish Opera

Lawrence Renes, Conductor

Michael Cavanagh, Director

Erhard Rom, Set Designer

Parvin Mirhady, Costume Designer

Jeremy Carpenter, Chou En-lai

Ola Eliasson, Richard Nixon

Olle Persson, Henry Kissinger

Michael Weinius, Mao Zedong

Marianne Hellgren Staykov, Madame Mao, Chiang Ch'ing

Hanna Husáhr, Pat Nixon

Royal Swedish Opera Chorus

Royal Swedish Orchestra

Stemme leads an explosive Jenůfa at Royal Swedish Opera

David Karlin, 25th October

Janáček’s drama of infanticide is delivered at full power by Nina Stemme and Agneta Eichenholz in Annilese Miskimmon’s well-crafted production. The orchestra, however, are just too loud.

****1

Overpowering Candide at Royal Swedish Opera

David Karlin, 25th October

Ole Anders Tandberg's edgy take on Bernstein's satirical operetta is lifted by some good performances but marred by an overpowering orchestra.

***11

A dark, brutal Don Giovanni in Stockholm

Laura Servidei, 28th March

The Royal Swedish Opera revives Tandberg’s 2014 production with a solid cast of Swedish singers.

***11

Swedish première of Szymanowski’s King Roger in Stockholm

Laura Servidei, 19th March

Elin Rombo shines in a co-production of King Roger with the Royal Swedish Opera and Teatr Wielki, in Warsaw

***11

Anne Sofie von Otter dominates the scene in Stockholm's Carmélites

Laura Servidei, 6th February

The Royal Swedish Opera revives Garpe’s production of Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites with a committed cast.

***11

Carmen meets Tosca at the Royal Swedish Opera

Laura Servidei, 19th January

A semi-successful production with an interesting underlying idea and a solid cast brings Bizet’s masterpiece back to Stockholm.

***11

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David Karlin

David is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.

Thoughtfully directed, superbly played: Nixon in China in Stockholm