Tag Archives: Aleksandra Kurzak

Cavalleria rusticana & Pagliacci: murder, lust and fiery singing

Mascagni: Cavalleria rusticana; Leoncavallo: Pagliacci Royal Opera House, 30th November 2023 Anna The verismo twins Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci are back, fatally entwined since 1893, when Pietro Mascagni and Ruggero Leoncavallo’s one-act operas first shared a double bill. Their deadly … Continue reading

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Heart’s desire: a gallery of new roles from Aleksandra Kurzak

Desire: Aleksandra Kurzak Morphing Chamber Orchestra, Vienna/ Frédéric Chaslin (Sony) The last operatic performance I saw before lockdown was La traviata at Covent Garden, the first time Aleksandra Kurzak sang Violetta in Richard Eyre’s celebrated London production. And, as it … Continue reading

Posted in CD | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Aleksandra Kurzak impresses in latest Covent Garden Traviata revival

Verdi: La traviata Royal Opera, 14th March 2020 Despite Violetta’s fragile health, Covent Garden Traviatas are made of sturdy stuff. Luchino Visconti’s 1967 production lasted nearly thirty years and Richard Eyre’s successor clocked up its 25th anniversary just before Christmas. … Continue reading

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plums and turkeys: a musical voyage around 2016

Most people I know cannot wait to see the back of 2016. But in the year in which Brexit, Trump and the Grim Reaper were the big winners, I admit to having had a terrific twelve months. A whirl of … Continue reading

Posted in Comment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Plums and turkeys: a musical voyage around 2016

Return to the crime scene: fresh blood improves Royal Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor **** Royal Opera, 11th May 2016 Double casts are a mixed blessing. When they play side by side, there’s a temptation to indulge in ‘fantasy casting’, mixing and matching your ideal team from those available. But … Continue reading

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Return to the crime scene: fresh blood improves Royal Opera’s Lucia di Lammermoor