Tag Archives: Verdi

Musical gifts from Karina Canellakis and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra

Canellakis/ Netherlands Radio Philharmonic TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, 19th June 2020 Bouquets are usually given at the end of a performance, but Karina Canellakis and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra began their concert in TivoliVredenburg with a floral offering, Puccini’s Crisantemi (Chrysanthemums). This closing event in the Avrotros … Continue reading

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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

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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

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Love, intrigue… and black paint-play: Luisa Miller at ENO

Verdi: Luisa Miller English National Opera, 12th February 2020 Luisa Miller hasn’t had much luck in London. Olivier Tambosi’s 2003 staging for The Royal Opera “vandalised Verdi” (The Observer), while Olivia Fuchs’ for Holland Park the following year was “badly … Continue reading

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Welsh National Opera tackles Les Vêpres siciliennes but the vocal fireworks fail to ignite

Verdi: Les Vêpres siciliennes  Welsh National Opera, Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 8th February 2020 “Enough work to kill a bull!” was Verdi’s complaint about the effort of writing for the Paris Opéra. Les Vêpres siciliennes was the composer’s first original work … Continue reading

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