Just as Orpheus embarks on a quest for his beloved Eurydice, so the Royal Opera House seems to be in pursuit of the mythical music-maker himself: this year the house has presented Monteverdi’s Orfeo at the Camden Roundhouse (with the Early Opera Company in January), Gluck’s OrphÈe et Eurydice on the main stage (September), and, in the Linbury Studio Theatre, both Birtwistle’s The Corridor (June) and the Paris-music-hall style Little Lightbulb Theatre/Battersea Arts Centre co-production, Orpheus (September).
Year: 2015
64th Wexford Festival Opera
Wexford Festival Opera has served up another thought-provoking and musically rewarding trio of opera rarities — neglected, forgotten or seldom performed — in 2015.
Christoph PrÈgardien, Schubert, Wigmore Hall London
Another highlight of the Wigmore Hall complete Schubert Song series – Christoph PrÈgardien and Christoph Schnackertz. The core Wigmore Hall Lieder audience were out in force. These days, though, there are young people among the regulars : a sign that appreciation of Lieder excellence is most certainly alive and well at the Wigmore Hall. .
The Magic Flute in San Francisco
How did it go? Reactions of my neighbors varied. Some left at the intermission, others remarked that they thought the singing was good.
La Vestale, La Monnaie, Bruxelles
In the first half of the 19th century, Spontini’s La Vestale was a hit. Empress Josephine sponsored its premiere, Parisians heard it hundreds of times, Berlioz raved about it and Wagner conducted it.
THOMAS: Hamlet, Moscow 2015
Hamlet: OpÈra in five acts. Music composed by Ambroise Thomas. Libretto by Michel CarrÈ and Jules Barbier after The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare.
Shattering Madama Butterfly Stockholm
An intelligent updating and outstanding performance of the title role lead to a shattering climax in Puccini’s Japanese opera
Theodora, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Handel’s genius is central focus to the new staging of Handel’s oratorio Theodora at Paris’ Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.
Bostridge Sings Handel
1985 must have been a good year for founding a musical ensemble, or festival or organisation, which would have longevity.
Tannhauser und der S‰ngerkrieg auf Wartburg
Ossia Tannhauser and James Levine with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.