Bachtrack logo
What's on
All eventsConcertsOperaDanceKids eventsMasterclassesCompetitionsFestivals
Reviews
All reviewsConcert reviewsOpera reviewsDance reviews
Articles
All articlesFeaturesInterviewsOpinionPlaylists
News
Video
Video homeAll videoStreamed eventsConcertsOperaDanceKids eventsMasterclassesPublishers
Site
About usContact usLink to usConditions of useCookiesPrivacy
Young artists
Travel
EventsReviewsArticlesVideo

In Salzburg, how do you solve a problem like two Marias? West Side Story at the Whitsun Festival

By Jonathan Sutherland, 15 May 2016
Loading, please wait...
See full listing
Reviewed at Felsenreitschule, Salzburg on 13 May 2016
Programme
Bernstein, West Side Story
Performers
Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor
Philip Wm. McKinley, Director
George Tsypin, Set Designer
Ann Hould-Ward, Costume Designer
Cecilia Bartoli, Maria
Michelle Veintimilla, Maria
Karen Olivo, Anita
Norman Reinhardt, Tony
Dan Burton, Riff
George Akram, Bernardo
Liam Steel, Choreography
Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela
More Opera reviews
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
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
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
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. 
*****
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
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
More reviews...
Read reviews of
Ann Hould-WardCecilia BartoliGeorge TsypinGustavo DudamelLeonard BernsteinLiam SteelNorman ReinhardtSimón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of VenezuelaWest Side Story
Related articles
Loading image...
Los Angeles Philharmonic names Anna Handler as Conductor-in-Residence
Loading image...
Diving headlong into a bountiful new season at Palau de la Música
Loading image...
New York Philharmonic due to perform Ravel world premiere
Loading image...
Insiders may have assisted pro-Palestine protest at Salzburg Festival
Jonathan Sutherland
Jonathan Sutherland
Jonathan Sutherland is a graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and the Hochschule Mozarteum in Salzburg. He is also an internationally renowned concert pianist specializing in the music of the 1930s. Jonathan’s first operatic experience was hearing Maria Callas sing Tosca in Covent Garden and he has since heard performances in all continents of the world including over 60 different productions at the Wiener Staatsoper. He has written for The Australian, Opera Today and The Opera Critic as well as Bachtrack. Jonathan speaks English, French, German and Italian fluently and is based in the south of France near Nice.