NODO winds down with phenomenal Oresteia

By Rebecca Lentjes, 02 July 2016

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Reviewed at Jiří Myron Theatre, Ostrava on 30 June 2016

Xenakis, Oresteia

Petr Kotík, Conductor

Jiří Nekvasil, Director

David Bazika, Set Designer

Holger Falk, Cassandra

Tamás Schlanger, Percussion

Canticum Ostrava

Children Choir Permoníček

Ostravská banda

An all-star Jenůfa falls short in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 16th September

Superb singing and brilliant work in the pit can't quite rescue Jiří Nekvasil's overambitious production.

****1

The Devil’s Wall: Smetana’s last opera, at his birthplace

David Karlin, 15th June

Glorious music and excellent singing can't mask a simplistic staging of Smetana's last opera, an uneasy combination of rom-com and medieval legend.

***11

Casting Trump as a 21st-century Brechtian villain

Kurt Gottschalk, 1st September

Donatienne Michel-Dansac is great in the lead at the Ostrava Days new music festival, leering, boasting and swaggering convincingly as the former US President.

****1

Don Giovanni: Plácido Domingo fulfills a dream in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 27th October

The King of Opera leads an inspired performance commemorating the 230th anniversary of Don Giovanni.

*****

Red Moon Rising: Orff in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 20th October

In a delirious opening to the new opera season, Prague's National Theatre puts a contemporary spin on Carl Orff and the Brothers Grimm.

***11

Martinu's dazzling, overlooked Mirandolina in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 7th January

This gem from Martinů received a bright, spirited performance at the Estates Theatre in Prague – putting an early gleam on what should be an interesting year celebrating Czech music.

****1

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Rebecca Lentjes

Rebecca graduated from New York University in 2012, where she studied Music and Romance Languages. She now works as an assistant editor at RILM (Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale) and as manager of contemporary music collective ensemble mise-en.