A memorable 1857 Simon Boccanegra from Elder and The Hallé

Sir Mark Elder, Eri Nakamura and The Hallé

Sir Mark Elder conducts The Hallé

Sir Mark Elder conducts Simon Boccanegra

Germán Enrique Alcántara

By Rohan Shotton, 21 April 2024

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“Alcántara... traced a remarkable character development through the evening”

Reviewed at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on 18 April 2024

Verdi, Simon Boccanegra (Original version 1857))

Sir Mark Elder, Conductor

The Hallé

Chorus of Opera North

Germán Enrique Alcántara, Simon Boccanegra

William Thomas, Jacopo Fiesco

Eri Nakamura, Amelia Grimaldi

Iván Ayón-Rivas, Gabriele Adorno

Sergio Vitale, Paolo Albiani

David Shipley, Pietro

Royal Northern College of Music Chorus

A noble Norma trapped in a hollow dystopia

Andrew Larkin, 24th May

Salome Jicia delivers a vocally impressive and emotionally committed Norma, but Orpha Phelan’s post-apocalyptic staging fatally weakens Bellini’s sacred tragedy.

***11

A deli-cious revival of Rossini’s Il turco in Italia at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 23rd May

Mariame Clément’s production of Rossini's meta comedy is tightly revived with some excellent singing. Come for the writing tips, stay for the cured meats.

****1

Superb musical performances in Pinchgut's Scarlatti rarity in Sydney

Sandra Bowdler, 23rd May

As usual, Pinchgut lavishes musical excellence on an obscure Baroque work... but why stage an oratorio?

****1

The Met’s Frida y Diego proves visually stunning, musically thrilling

David Wolfson, 22nd May

Deborah Colker and her design team create visually vibrant worlds for the Met’s new production of El último sueño de Frida y Diego, by Pulitzer Prize winner Gabriela Lena Frank.

*****

Dudamel’s LA Phil Walküre proves worth the wait

Matthew Richard Martinez, 21st May

An enveloping performance of Die Walküre spans three consecutive evenings, featuring world class singing in Frank Gehry’s stunning space.

****1

Glyndebourne’s first Tosca: vocally strong but imperfect

David Karlin, 21st May

Ted Huffman brings some interesting ideas to his first Glyndebourne production. Excellent singing is let down by indifferent physical acting.

***11

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Rohan Shotton

Rohan has reviewed concerts and opera across the UK and Europe, but chiefly in Manchester, where he enjoys conducting and playing percussion and piano. He works as a hospital doctor, having studied in St Andrews and Manchester, and tweets as @RohanShotton.

A memorable 1857 Simon Boccanegra from Sir Mark Elder and The Hallé