The other face of Schrott: Rojotango at the Budapest Spring Festival

By David Karlin, 03 April 2014

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Reviewed at Vigszínház (Comedy Theatre), Budapest on 2 April 2014

Piazzolla, Other (Tangos)

Ziegler, Tangos

Various, Folk songs from Argentina and Brazil

Piazzolla, Oblivion

Piazzolla, Libertango

Piazzolla, Milonga del Angel

Veloso, Desde que o Samba é Samba

Erwin Schrott, Bass-baritone

The Rojotango Ensemble

At La Scala, Livermore sets Gioconda in a dreamy Venetian landscape

Laura Servidei, 7th June

La Scala presents a new production of Ponchielli’s masterpiece, the first one in more than 20 years and a sequence of beautiful images supporting a solid cast, led by Saioa Hernández.

***11

Moïse et Pharaon in Pesaro: the Rossini Opera Festival is back!

Laura Servidei, 6th August

A new production by Pier Luigi Pizzi opens the festival in Pesaro with Giacomo Sagripanti in the pit leading a strong cast and powerful chorus.

****1

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David Karlin, 5th July

Unimpeachable voices and fine playing light up The Royal Opera's latest revival of Kasper Holten's dark staging.

****1

Highway to Hell: Don Giovanni returns to Covent Garden

Dominic Lowe, 16th September

Kasper Holten's psychological take on the louche lothario remains controversial, but in its third revival, Erwin Schrott's powerful assumption of the title role is a delight.

***11

Faust finds salvation thanks to jump-in soprano

Mark Pullinger, 11th April

A devilishly fun performance of Gounod's take on Goethe, saved when Mandy Fredrich flew in at short notice to take over the role of Marguerite.

****1

A superb, sinister Hoffmann at Dutch National Opera

Jenny Camilleri, 3rd June

Selectively unearthed from current critical editions, this fabulously performed new Hoffmann plumbs the murky depths of its antihero’s psyche.

*****

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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.