A female voice florilegium: Vivaldi's Juditha triumphans in Paris

By Laura Servidei, 13 February 2020

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Reviewed at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris on 11 February 2020

Vivaldi, Juditha triumphans, RV 644

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Conductor

Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Juditha

Ana Maria Labin, Vagaus

Sonia Prina, Holofernes

Benedetta Mazzucato, Abra

Dara Savinova, Ozias

Chœur Mélisme(s)

Ensemble Matheus

Christof Loy’s understated Werther at the TCE

David Karlin, 22nd March

Massenet’s take on Goethe’s blockbuster novella of unrequited love and suicide is handled with great subtlety by Christof Loy and Marc Leroy-Calatayud. Benjamin Bernheim and Marina Viotti lead a starry vocal cast.

****1

Carry on up the Nile: Handel's Berenice by the Seine

Sandra Bowdler, 21st May

One of Handel's lesser operas receives a deluxe concert performance at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, with Il Pomo d'Oro and a fine array of singers.

****1

Operetta with teeth: Offenbach’s La Périchole at the TCE

David Karlin, 13th November

Laurent Pelly’s new production combines froth and hilarity with a dark, satirical heart; Marc Minkowski and the orchestra seduce us.

****1

Devieilhe's Cleopatra reigns in Michieletto's muddled Egyptology show

Mark Pullinger, 11th May

The French soprano delivers an A-list performance as the Egyptian queen, donning a variety of Hollywood guises at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.

***11

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées: Catone in Utica

Vesna Gerintes, 10th January

Conductor Alan Curtis and musicologist Alessandro Ciccolini have successfully restored Vivaldi's opera Catone in Utica, and they brought it to the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris with a star performance from mezzo Ann Hallenberg.

****1

La possibilité d’une île pour Robinson Crusoé au TCE

Romain Daroles, 3rd December

Si la partition d'Offenbach n'est pas toujours un chef-d'œuvre et a singulièrement vieilli, la direction de Marc Minkowski, la mise en scène de Laurent Pelly et la distribution servent intelligemment cette belle redécouverte.

***11

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Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.