A rapturous Tristan und Isolde in Paris

By Mark Valencia, 17 May 2016

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“Nicholls marks her ascent to the Wagnerian top table with singing of... limpid ecstasy”

Reviewed at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris on 15 May 2016

Wagner, Tristan und Isolde

Daniele Gatti, Conductor

Pierre Audi, Director

Christof Hetzer, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Torsten Kerl, Tristan

Rachel Nicholls, Isolde

Steven Humes, King Marke

Brett Polegato, Kurwenal

Andrew Rees, Melot

Michelle Breedt, Brangäne

Marc Larcher, Shepherd, Young seaman

Francis Dudziak, Helmsman

Orchestre National de France

Chœur de Radio France

Handel’s Alcina makes its overdue Rome debut

Pia Maltri, 18th March

Illusion – theatrical illusion – is the theme of Pierre Audi's staging of Alcina, Handel’s beloved opera which finally makes its debut in Rome.

****1

An immersion into the psyche of Stockhausen at the Park Avenue Armory

Kurt Gottschalk, 8th June

Inside Light, which takes music from Karlheinz Stockhausen's massive, 29-hour opera cycle Licht, adds to the enigma while creating its own spectacle.

****1

Splendid performance of Parsifal amid Audi's bleakness in Munich

Ako Imamura, 14th April

The Bayerische Staatsoper's revival of a controversial production containing Georg Baselitz’s artwork succeeds with strong musical performances led by veterans of Wagnerian operas.

****1

Once more around the catwalk: Audi's Walküre in Amsterdam

Nicolas Nguyen, 16th November

Dutch National Opera revives Pierre Audi's acclaimed Die Walküre for the very last time.

*****

Airborne string players and choral wizardry in aus LICHT Part 3

Jenny Camilleri, 2nd June

In the final instalment of aus LICHT, the Helicopter String Quartet lives up to the publicity hype and choirs perform marvellous feats.

****1

Hypnotic, diabolical and magical:

Jenny Camilleri, 1st June

The second day of aus LICHT is one mesmerising highlight after another, including the Netherlands Youth and Children’s Choirs in one magical and one sinister procession.

****1

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Mark Valencia

Mark has worked in arts journalism for four decades, both as a writer and as a French-English translator. Nowadays he focuses his energies on reviewing opera and music. Mark also writes for Opera magazine and for Musical America as a correspondent for Europe and the UK.