The ultimate love story: Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde in Budapest

By Alexander Hall, 17 June 2018

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“fervent commitment and utter fearlessness in her steel-capped top notes”

Reviewed at Müpa: Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, Budapest on 16 June 2018

Wagner, Tristan und Isolde

Ádám Fischer, Conductor

Cesare Lievi, Director

Maurizio Balò, Set Designer

Marina Luxardo, Costume Designer

Allison Oakes, Isolde

Peter Seiffert, Tristan

Liang Li, King Marke

Atala Schöck, Brangäne

Neal Cooper, Melot

Zoltán Megyesi, Shepherd

Istvan Horvath, Young seaman

Zsolt Haja, Helmsman

Boaz Daniel, Kurwenal

Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra

Male Choir of the Hungarian National Philharmonic

Cecilia Bartoli does it again: an effervescent Cenerentola in Zurich

Laura Servidei, 8th March

The Opernhaus Zürich presents yet another Cenerentola with Cecilia Bartoli in the title role, surrounded by a great cast, with the support of the period orchestra La Scintilla, under Gianluca Capuano's knowledgeable baton.

****1

Linda di Chamounix a bittersweet tale at the Maggio Musicale

Laura Servidei, 3rd October

Jessica Pratt shines in this Donizetti coloratura role, with the support of Teresa Iervolino as a luxury Pierotto, and a solid cast of Italian singers.

***11

Donizetti's Linda di Chamounix comes to her senses in Florence

Lorenzo Fiorito, 15th January

The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino’s proposal is fully commendable, as they restored an opera rarely performed

****1

Bartoli fireworks bring down the house in Zurich

Sarah Batschelet, 31st December

Nothing on New Year’s Eve could have been more festive than the spirited production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola that Zurich Opera staged with Cecelia Bartoli in the lead role.

****1

Neon and cubes in Zurich

Sarah Batschelet, 1st October

Questionable identities, clandestine messages, love and money are the stuffs of Gioacchino Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia, revived again in Zurich.

***11

Bologna's Teatro Comunale scores a slam dunk

James Imam, 18th May

The Comunale had teamed up with Bologna's basketball team Virtus to create a 50%-off ticket deal aimed at drawing new audiences. The subject matter of this opera might not seem the most immediately accessible, but this was playing to capture the imaginations of opera newbies.

****1

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Alexander Hall

Alexander Hall divides his time between London and Hamburg, where he had a career in academic administration and teaching. He reviews for Bachtrack and Opera Today, and has also reviewed for Classical Source. A connoisseur of the great orchestras of the world, his musical memories stretch back to Karajan/Berlin Phil, Mravinsky/Leningrad Phil, Bernstein/Vienna Phil, and he has seen most of the great conductors from the past, including Böhm, Klemperer, Kubelik, Ormandy and Szell.