Tag Archives: Verdi

“Esultate!” Kunde’s Otello impresses at Covent Garden

Verdi: Otello Royal Opera, 9th December 2019 It’s good to have expectations confounded. For much of his career, American tenor Gregory Kunde specialised in bel canto repertoire, his light, flexible voice ideal for Rossini with easy top notes that also … Continue reading

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Christiane Lutz casts Rigoletto into the limelight as Charlie Chaplin

Verdi: Rigoletto Glyndebourne, 17th October 2019 Wandering Glyndebourne’s foyer in the interval of its first ever production of Rigoletto, there was a common thread of conversation: what on earth was going on? Those not in earnest discussion were rifling through … Continue reading

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Thrills, chills and an immersive auto-da-fé: Konwitschny’s Don Carlos sizzles in Hamburg

Verdi: Don Carlos Staatsoper Hamburg, 30th May 2019 “Beware my Grand Inquisitor!” The Hamburg audience would do well to heed Phliip II’s warning to the Marquis de Posa in Peter Konwitschny’s production of Don Carlos. During the first interval, there … Continue reading

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Outrageous fortune: stellar opening night for Forza del destino at Covent Garden

Verdi: La forza del destino Royal Opera House, 21st March 2019 Nights at the opera like this come along once in a blue moon. A Verdi score packed with great music, populated by big names, big voices and big personalities. … Continue reading

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Under the eye of Horus: a traditional Aida in Liège

Verdi: Aida Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège, 9th March 2019 It’s with no little irony that as the Metropolitan Opera brings down the curtain on its epic “Valley of the Kings” Aida after 31 years of sturdy service, a new staging … Continue reading

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