In their programme note, Christopher Alden and Peter Littlefield explain the
concept which informs this dark, dystopian production of Jan·ček’s
penultimate opera, The Makropulos Case — a production first seen
at ENO in 2004:
Category: Reviews
The Makropulos Case at ENO
Aida in San Francisco
Opera as circus. The current San Francisco Aida comes from the English National Opera where an inspired and probably very excited administrator proposed a production by aging London fashionista Zandra Rhodes.
An experience In the Penal Colony
Kafka’s In the Penal Colony set as an opera by Philip Glass? Against all expectations, it was a powerful and deeply moving experience.
Gustav Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde
Vocally impressive, Michael Tilson Thomas’s new recording of Gustav Mahler’s symphonic song cycle Das Lied von der Erde merits attention for various reasons.
Un ballo in maschera at the Washington National Opera
Verdi’s 1859 hit Un ballo in maschera is an inspired choice to open an operatic season.
Hugo Wolf’s Spanisches Liederbuch at Wigmore Hall
In this recital of thirty-four songs selected from Hugo Wolf’s
Spanisches Liederbuch, Ian Bostridge and Angelika Kirchschlager
revealed the profound emotional intensity of Wolf’s art; the concentrated
ardour of their performance intimated the heightened passion and expressive
angst which, as well as driving Wolf’s creative spirit, also led to
persistent depression and resulted in insanity and finally death in mental
asylum at the age of 42.
Don Pasquale at the Royal Opera House
This show, a revival of Jonathan Miller’s 2004 production (first seen at the Maggio Musicale in Florence) is certainly a feast for the eyes.
The Rake’s Progress at ThÈ‚tre Royal de la Monnaie
At some point it became a matter of honor for elite composers to have at least one go at a full length opera.
Bayreuth’s Lohengrin: A ‘Rat’-ical Re-‘tail’-ing
It doesn’t take long for the summer’s new Lohengrin to reveal its entire bag of tricks as a large chorus of rats (yes, the chorus-as-rodents) scurries on at curtain-rise into the white science laboratory setting.
CosÏ fan tutte, Royal Opera House
Everyone loves Mozart. The Royal Opera House’s 2010-2011 season began with CosÏ fan tutte, and simultaneous live international broadcast.