Des Moines Metro Opera has advanced its record for excellence with a musically resplendent, visually rich, wholly riveting production of Stravinsky’s multi-faceted piece, The Rake’s Progress. The glories in store…
Category: Performances
The Story of Billy Budd, Sailor in Aix
“After Benjamin Britten,” the title continues. Thus a twentieth century masterpiece was reduced to its twenty-first century essentials — six singers, three keyboards, percussion, a platform and a sail. The…
Don Giovanni in Aix
The late, justly mourned Pierre Audi, general director of the Aix Festival for these last seven festivals, matched renowned conductors and stage directors to create monumental stagings of the gamut…
Les Indes galantes – Discovered in Rural Hampshire
It is 12 years since Glyndebourne staged Hippolyte et Aricie, and eight since ETO showcased Dardanus, but perhaps Garsington’s success last summer with Rameau’s wicked comedy Platée will have prompted…
Outward 18th Century Charm with Insights into Character for Glyndebourne’s New The Marriage of Figaro
Mariame Clément’s new production of Le nozze di Figaro doesn’t throw any big or provocative ideas at Mozart’s perennial masterpiece – a mainstay for Glyndebourne and its most performed opera…
A Memorable and Musically Superb Pelléas et Mélisande from Longborough Festival Opera
Bare light bulbs, dazzling lighting rigs and handheld torches dominate Jenny Ogilvie’s new staging of Pelléas et Mélisande at Longborough Festival Opera. The production fulfils a long-held dream by the…
Two Impressive Song Recitals at Aldeburgh Festival
I caught up with two recitals during the festival’s final week; the first, Melodies and Lieder, explored French and German approaches to love, nature and what the next world may…
BBC Singers in Spectacular Form at the Aldeburgh Festival
Peace on earth in troubled times could have been a heading for this text-laden programme of mostly a cappella 20th century choral music. One expects a few challenging works from…
Wolf Trap Opera’s The Marriage of Figaro: Mozart Marries Picasso
Having experienced Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Wolf Trap amphitheater two years ago, I was prepared to enjoy an operatic evening in the outdoors in going to see The Marriage…
Britten to Boulez at the Aldeburgh Festival – Two Standout Concerts
“No one likes us, we don’t care” cheer the supporters of Millwall Football Club – words that might just as well belong to Pierre Boulez and his followers. It’s certainly…