Tag Archives: Roberto Alagna

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

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Roberto Alagna brings up his century at The Royal Opera in Andrea Chénier revival

Giordano: Andrea Chénier Royal Opera, 20th May 2019 In cricketing terms, Roberto Alagna would be raising his bat triumphantly towards the Covent Garden pavilion. This opening night of Andrea Chénier chalked up the French-Sicilian tenor’s century, his hundredth performance with … Continue reading

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Softly awakes my cold, cold heart: a tepid Samson et Dalila in Vienna

Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila *** Wiener Staatsoper, 12th May 2018 Strip Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila of its biblical setting and what have you got left? An individual who succumbs to temptation and forfeits his life to kill hundreds of his religious enemies. … Continue reading

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Paradise regained: Vasco da Gama sets sail in style at Deutsche Oper

Meyerbeer: Vasco da Gama **** Deutsche Oper Berlin, 4th October 2015 There are some random ways to die in opera – caught in an avalanche, hurled into a cauldron of boiling water, thrown to the lions – but inhaling the … Continue reading

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‘Shabby shocker’ fails to impress

Puccini: Tosca ** Metropolitan Opera, 9th November 2013 Putting tried and trusted productions out to grass and replacing them is always a gamble. ENO unveiled its new Magic Flute last week, a spritely filly though some will hanker after Hytner’s … Continue reading

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