Category: Performances

Verdi’s magnificent melodrama Il Trovatore may be the most masculine of his creations, but the production that San Diego Opera presented as the third opera of its 2007 season was a triumph for the ladies.

Let’s face it, Handel’s “Poro, Re dell’Indie” (in English “Porus, King of India”) isn’t exactly a household name in any but the most dedicated baroque opera circles.

UC Opera now have a half-century’s reputation to live up to; they were responsible for the UK premieres of such works as Das Liebesverbot, The Maid of Orleans, Alzira, Oberto and the 1847 version of Macbeth.

With the trials and tribulations of a multicultural society currently at the forefront of the British media, Gavin Quinnís production placed a light-hearted focus on the bizarreness of a group of foreigners being thrown together in an unfamiliar situation.

London is fortunate to have played host to several productions of Tchaikovskyís best-known opera in the last three years alone, most recently British Youth Operaís heartbreakingly fresh account last September ñ so it was a risky decision on ETOís part to stage yet another.

Nice Opera, on the French Cote d’Azur, seemed a most suitable place for this early work by
Handel.

A near-capacity audience, expectant and enthusiastic, streamed into the Dorothy Chandler for an old-fashioned evening of operatic glamour, as Angela Gheorghiu, with the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra in support, flew into town for a one night concert.

This year is Thomas Adés’ annus mirabilis. He’s the subject of a major, six-week retrospective at the Barbican, and, of course, will be a major presence at the Aldeburgh Festival.

Speaking to a trusted chorus-member friend after this performance, I was told that I had benefited from not having seen this production when new three months ago.

Just about halfway though his first season as music director of Los Angeles Opera, James Conlon has already made himself an endearing and appreciated figure.