Monthly Archives: February 2013

Vivaldi: Concerti per fagotto III

Vivaldi: Concerti per fagotto III Sergio Azzolini; L’Aura Soave Cremona/ Diego Cantalupi (Naïve OP 30539) Vivaldi was a prolific advocate for the bassoon, composing 39 concertos – more than for any instrument other than his own, the violin. While the … Continue reading

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Superb Rachmaninov triptych from Bergen

Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances; The Rock; The Isle of the Dead Andrew Litton/Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (BIS) A couple of decades ago, the partnership of Mariss Jansons and the Oslo Philharmonic yielded some terrific discs, initially for Chandos (a splendid set of … Continue reading

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Kasper Holten’s fresh perspective on Eugene Onegin

Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin **** Royal Opera, 4th February 2013 The Royal Opera House is devoted solely to Tchaikovsky at present, with thirteen consecutive performances of Onegin playing on the Covent Garden stage. In a neat flourish of double programming, Tchaikovsky’s … Continue reading

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It’s curtains for Violetta: Corinne Winters triumphs in Konwitschny’s stripped-down Traviata

Verdi: La traviata ***** English National Opera, 2nd February 2013 Red curtains peel apart tentatively to reveal a chair… and another set of red curtains. And that, in essence (save for a stack of books) is it for the set … Continue reading

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A whiff of greasepaint: Verdi crackling with theatricality from Chailly at La Scala

Viva Verdi! Filarmonica della Scala/ Riccardo Chailly (Decca 478 3559) Riccardo Chailly conducts Verdi at La Scala all too infrequently. In the past decade, there has been a 2006 Rigoletto, followed by the Franco Zeffirelli production of Aida, where Roberto … Continue reading

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