Tag Archives: Mozart

New wine in old vodka bottles? Così fan tutte from Perm

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Mozart: Così fan tutte (Sony) This is the second issue in the Mozart/ Da Ponte opera cycle from Perm, home to Europe’s easternmost opera house, and once again, Sony gives it the red carpet treatment.  A hardback case, with glossy cobalt jacket, … Continue reading →

Posted in CD | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on New wine in old vodka bottles? Così fan tutte from Perm

Gluck’s Don Juan fails to seduce in the AAM’s Grand Tour

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Mark Pullinger

Academy of Ancient Music *** Milton Court, 25th November 2014 Gluck’s Don Juan was clearly an inspiration to Mozart when composing his operatic version of the tale, Don Giovanni. The anti-hero’s descent into hell even shares the same dark D minor key as … Continue reading →

Posted in Concert | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Gluck’s Don Juan fails to seduce in the AAM’s Grand Tour

Freiburg Baroque: Fun Mozart – a serious business

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Mark Pullinger

Mozart: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra **** Wigmore Hall, 13th November 2014 Perhaps the best jokers keep the straightest faces. For much of this evening at Wigmore Hall, the body language of the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra portrayed serious musicians going about their … Continue reading →

Posted in Concert | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Freiburg Baroque: Fun Mozart – a serious business

Martin Kušej’s Idomeneo cast as gripping political power struggle

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Mark Pullinger

Mozart: Idomeneo **** Royal Opera, 3rd November 2014 “Here be dragons!” warned seafaring maps of yore, denoting uncharted territories. Martin Kušej, undertaking his first Royal Opera exploration, excised the sea monster from his vision of Mozart’s Idomeneo. Well, there was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Martin Kušej’s Idomeneo cast as gripping political power struggle

Farcical elements to the fore in Eyre’s witty new Figaro as Met Opera season opens

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Mark Pullinger

Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro **** Metropolitan Opera, 22nd September 2014 Le nozze di Figaro is often cited as the most perfect opera ever composed – a claim against which I find it difficult to argue. Based on Beaumarchais’ revolutionary La folle … Continue reading →

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Farcical elements to the fore in Eyre’s witty new Figaro as Met Opera season opens