A Verdi pilgrimage to Liège for Jérusalem

Elaine Alvarez (Hélène) and Chorus

Jérusalem Ballet

Roberto Scandiuzzi (Roger) and Victor Cousu (Soldier)

Marc Laho (Gaston)

Pietro Picone (Raymond), Marc Laho (Gaston) Elaine Alvarez (Hélène) and Natacha Kowalski (Isaure)

By Mark Pullinger, 18 March 2017

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“Speranza Scappucci refused to rush Verdi's score and reduce it to “Galley Years” tub-thumping”

Reviewed at Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège, Liège on 17 March 2017

Verdi, Jérusalem

Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège

Speranza Scappucci, Conductor

Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera, Director

Jean-Guy Lecat, Set Designer

Fernand Ruiz, Costume Designer

Marc Laho, Gaston, Viscount of Béarn

Elaine Álvarez, Hélène

Roberto Scandiuzzi, Roger

Ivan Thirion, The Count of Toulouse

Natacha Kowalski, Isaure

Patrick Delcour, Adhemar de Monteil

Pietro Picone, Raymond

Alexei Gorbatchev, The Emir of Ramla

Gianni Santucci, Choreography

Chœur de Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège

Orchestra de Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège

Gregory Kunde is splendid in Liege’s new Don Carlos

Ako Imamura, 5th February

The Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège takes a risk in mounting a new, but traditional production of the more rarely heard French version of Verdi’s Don Carlos and succeeds with a great ensemble of singers.

****1

Under the eye of Horus: Aida in Liège

Mark Pullinger, 9th March

Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera's staging for Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège is stolid in direction, but Speranza Scappucci breathes life into Verdi's drama from the pit.

***11

Tragic dignity and pathos from José Cura's Otello

John Johnston, 29th June

Cura's powerful spinto tenor impressed from his opening “Esultate!” and left no doubt as to the Moor's authority.

****1

Maria Stuarda and Donizetti's "vil bastarda" in Liège

Simon Rees, 18th May

The recently-refurbished Opéra Royal de Wallonie dominates the Place de l’Opéra in the Belgian city of Liège, not only with its imposing columned portico but with its new fly-tower which rears above it.

****1

Lucrezia Borgia ou les sortilèges du bel canto à Liège

Stéphane Lelièvre, 10th April

Retour du bel canto à Liège avec une belle production de l'opéra de Gaetano Donizetti où triomphe, dans le rôle-titre, une Jessica Pratt impressionnante de maîtrise et d'engagement.

****1

De la poudre aux yeux : fragile Traviata à l'Opéra de Liège

Irma Foletti, 21st September

La mise en scène de Thaddeus Strassberger s'efforce d'en mettre plein la vue mais elle ne rend pas justice au drame de Verdi, tandis qu'Irina Lungu déçoit dans le rôle-titre.

**111

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Mark Pullinger

Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.