Some operas play a pivotal role, both in the careers of those involved in their production and in the public’s experience of them. Pieces that, through the power of their…
THE ENCHANTRESS | Oper Frankfurt
The piece in question is rare enough to start this review with: “how can this story, one of Tchaikovsky’s masterpieces, be summed up?” It couldn’t be simpler: a widowed woman,…
DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN | Deutsche Oper Berlin
Deutsche Oper has taken on the challenge of staging Die Frau ohne Schatten after a hiatus of several years. And let’s face it: the challenge was met! As one of…
DAS RHEINGOLD | Opéra National de Paris
We’ve been waiting a long time for this première, and impatiently. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the production originally scheduled for 2020 has been postponed. Because he is one of…
ORLANDO | Théâtre du Châtelet
This isn’t a Claude Chabrol film, but you could call the Théâtre du Châtelet’s new production Orlando ou une affaire de femmes. Do you want avant-garde in the guise of…
THE CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN | Opéra National de Paris
No, this is not an opera for children (although there have already been performances for young audiences). It is certainly about animals, with their physical and acoustic characterisation, but this…
MESSIAH | Théâtre des Champs Elysées
When Christmas arrives (as it does at Easter), it’s hardly surprising to see Handel’s Messiah on the bill just about everywhere. But the difference with this Théâtre des Champs ElysĂ©es…
DER ZWERG | Deutsche Oper Berlin
His ugliness is remarkable – “a hideous gnome” according to Alma [Mahler] – but his eyes radiate intelligence, and like all those she touched with her wing, he has an…
ARIADNE AUF NAXOS | Opéra de Rouen Normandie
Let’s sublimate the metamorphosis into a stylistic kaleidoscope! Ariadne auf Naxos is one of the happiest collaborations between Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Richard Strauss. Halfway between Der Rosenkavalier and Die Frau ohne Schatten, between mythological…