English Touring Opera’s recent programming has been ambitious and inventive, and the results have been rewarding. We had two little-known Donizetti operas, The Siege of Calais and The Wild Man of the West Indies, in spring 2015, while autumn 2014 saw the company stage comedy by Haydn (Il mondo della luna) and romantic history by Handel (Ottone).
Year: 2015
Boesch and Martineau Schubert Complete Songs, Wigmore Hall, London
The Wigmore Hall’s complete Schubert Songs series of 40 concerts began with a recital by Florian Boesch and Graham Johnson. (Read my review here). If anything, though, the second concert, where Boesch was accompanied by Malcolm Martineau, was even better. The programme was beautifully planned, and the performance exceptional, even by the very high standards of the Wigmore Hall.
Shostakovich Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk – ENO London
It took artistic courage to choose Shostakovich Lady Macbeth of Mtensk to start the ENO’s 2015-2016 season. Shostakovich isn’t an easy sell, and so full of sex and violence that some minds – like Josef Stalin – would be aghast. But Mark Wigglesworth is passionate about Shostakovich , and as new Music Director of the ENO, he’s making a point. Good opera needs artistic vision.
Berg Wozzeck Fabio Luisi Zurich Opera
Zurich Opera brought Alban Berg Wozzeck to the Royal Festival Hall, London . Fabio Luisi conducted Philharmonia Zurich and a very good cast in a concert performance. With all pretence at staging removed (apart from natural good acting) we could focus on the sheer musical audacity of Berg’s writing, and pick up on the processes the music employs to create the drama.
“Nessun Dorma — The Puccini Album”
Sounds swirl with an urgent emotionality and meandering virtuosity on Jonas Kaufmann’s new Puccini album—the “real one”, according
to Kaufmann, whose works were also released earlier this year on Decca records, allegedly without his approval.
Verismo Double Header in Los Angeles
LA Opera got its season off to an auspicious beginning with starry revivals
of Gianni Schicchi and Pagliacci.
Viva Verdi at Opera Las Vegas
On September 9, 2015, Opera Las Vegas presented James Sohre’s production of Viva Verdi at the Smith Center’s Cabaret Jazz. It was a delightful evening of arias, duets and ensembles by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901). The program included many of the composer’s blockbuster arias and scenes from famous operas such as Aida, La traviata, and Macbeth.
Barbera Sings a Fascinating Recital in San Diego
On Saturday, September 19, San Diego Opera opened its 2015-2016 season with a recital by tenor RenÈ Barbera. This was the first Polly Puterbaugh Emerging Artist Award Recital and no artist could have been more deserving than the immensely talented Barbera.
Sweeney Todd at the San Francisco Opera
Did the iconic “off-beat” and “serious” American musical hold the stage of the War Memorial Opera House? The excited audience (standees three deep) thought so and roared their appreciation.
Sondra Radvanovsky Stars in the Title Role of Anna Bolena
The First of Three Donizetti Queens She Will Sing at the Met This Season