Of all the chocolate box operas, La Bohème is the box of Cadbury favourites: familiar, well-loved, and oh so delicious. Almost all of the Zeffirelli productions have disappeared from the Met but […]
Met Opera: La Boheme 2014 review
Met Opera: Madama Butterfly 2014 review
Anthony Minghella’s treasured staging makes a welcome return to the Met, providing an ideal star vehicle for fast-rising young Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais.
Met Opera: Andrea Chenier review
Glorious singing from three well-matched leads characterised this otherwise somewhat uninspiring presentation of Umberto Giordano’s verismo potboiler Andrea Chénier.
Victorian Opera: Games of Love & Chance review
An intriguingly varied evening of truly wonderful music was presented in a concert that represented extraordinary value for ticket buyers. Victorian Opera set a high standard for the year ahead with this […]
Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour: Madama Butterfly review
Embracing the iconic, spectacular harbour setting, creative team La Fura dels Baus have fashioned an intelligent, epic, moving and thought-provoking staging of Puccini’s treasured opera Madama Butterfly.
Sun Set to Rise on Harbour Butterfly
Completing a cycle of three lavish outdoor productions over three years, Madama Butterfly is set to open on Friday. This cherished Puccini opera follows La Traviata (2012) and Carmen (2013) as the […]
Paris Opera: Werther review
What better opera to see in Paris than this most French of operas, starring France’s favourite opera son. This season premiere is distinguished by excellent singing, fine orchestral playing and a suitably […]
The Royal Opera: Manon review
Massenet’s lush, romantic setting of the time-honoured French tale of Manon is given a lavish treatment in this sumptuous yet stylish production. The journey of impetuous anti-heroine Manon from rags to riches […]
The Royal Opera: Carmen review
With its spoken dialogue, scores of children, animals and dancers, and rich, authentically Spanish setting, director Francesca Zambello’s creative but traditional production of perennial favourite Carmen is a true crowd-pleaser. Action, dance […]
Bayerische Staatsoper: Eugene Onegin review
This most famous Russian opera receives a curiously tawdry, emotionally stilted treatment at Bavarian State Opera. Transplanted to a winter sports lounge in the swinging ’60s, the morals and traditions of the […]
