Monthly Archives: April 2016

Augurs of Spring: strong Mariinsky double bill in Cardiff

Posted on April 18, 2016 by Mark Pullinger

Mariinsky Ballet: Concerto DSCH/Sacre **** Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 17th April 2016 It’s difficult to know what shocked Parisian audiences more when The Rite of Spring caused a near riot at its 1913 première: was it Stravinsky’s music – pounding dissonances … Continue reading →

Posted in Ballet | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Augurs of Spring: strong Mariinsky double bill in Cardiff

Something to crow about: The Golden Cockerel as sharp political satire in Düsseldorf

Posted on April 16, 2016 by Mark Pullinger

Rimsky-Korsakov: The Golden Cockerel **** Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Düsseldorf, 15th April 2016 Think of Boris Yeltsin and one image probably springs to mind. In 1996, campaigning for re-election as Russian president, defying accusations of ill-health, he danced at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Something to crow about: The Golden Cockerel as sharp political satire in Düsseldorf

Born in Latvia: Elīna Garanča

Posted on April 15, 2016 by Mark Pullinger

When I reviewed Elīna Garanča’s Wigmore Hall recital last year, I was struck by her remarkable poise and stillness as a performer. Vocally, hers is probably the most beautiful mezzo voice in the world right now – velvety smooth, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Interviews | Tagged | Comments Off on Born in Latvia: Elīna Garanča

Flawed and floored: Katie Mitchell delivers a powerful Lucia at Covent Garden

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Mark Pullinger

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor *** The Royal Opera, 7th April 2016 The warning signs were there. Patrons had received the email warning of graphic scenes of sex and violence. Katie Mitchell herself said at a Friends’ Insight evening that “I … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Flawed and floored: Katie Mitchell delivers a powerful Lucia at Covent Garden

Old wine, new bottles: vintage season unveiled at the ROH

Posted on April 6, 2016 by Mark Pullinger

Recently, I’ve enviously devoured new season announcements flooding in from various opera companies around the globe. Adding events to Bachtrack keeps me abreast of all the wonderful things in store. In February, the Opéra de Paris unveiled a seriously tempting … Continue reading →

Posted in Comment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments