Opera Holland Park re-opens; Charities Philharmonia

It was good to see that the new canopy and foyer spaces at Holland Park Opera have retained the best of the old while bringing a new lease of life to proceedings. I especially like the new seats!

The opening production of Nabucco had its odd points but was genuinely stirring:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/ohp-nabucco.htm

Jenufa is unmissable for its stars, Anne Sophie Duprels and Anne Mason:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/ohp-jenufa.htm

Meanwhile, over at St John's Smith Square, we caught up with the latest concert by the Charities Philharmonia:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/charities-young-2.htm

Elgar's The Kingdom: Halle/Elder

An interesting evening at the Bridgewater Hall with Elgar's third oratorio. I'm not sure it competes with The Dream of Gerontius in my affections, but it was worth a hearing to say the least:

Elgar in his Kingdom: Halle/Elder

Another outstanding evening from the Halle at the top of their game in the Second Symphony and Cello Concerto of Elgar:

http://www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/halle-elgar-1.htm

Kyle Ketelsen interview; Death in Venice at ENO; Jansons' recording of Mahler 1; Royal Opera House buys Opus Arte DVD

I enjoyed catching up again with Kyle Ketelsen, the American bass whose recent appearances in Orlando and Figaro at Covent Garden were memorable. He's back to play Leporello in Don Giovanni and I also chatted to him about doing Escamillo in next year's revival of Carmen:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/ketelsen.htm

Agnes caught up with the second performance of ENO's new production of Death in Venice, directed by Deborah Warner and starring Ian Bostridge; new Music Director Edward Gardner showed promise in the pit:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/venice.htm

In exciting news, the Royal Opera House announced the takeover of Opus Arte DVD productions, the wider ramifications of which I discussed in my news article:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/roh-opus-arte.htm

Finally, yet another 5-star rated CD. Yes, there have been a few of them lately, but can I help it if everything is great?! Mariss Jansons truly gets to the heart of Mahler's First Symphony with the Royal Concertgebouw:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/jansons-mahler.htm

Coming soon: reviews of the Halle Orchestra's Elgar weekend, the LSO's latest CD, opera in Scotland and a revival of Don Giovanni at Covent Garden. Stay tuned, Dominic.

Ailish Tynan interview

Interview with the Irish soprano Ailish Tynan:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/tynan.htm

Fidelio at Covent Garden; Colin Davis; Stiffelio with Domingo on DVD;

Fidelio at Covent Garden with Mattila:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/fidelio.htm

Orfeo in the Lufthansa Festival:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/orfeo-2.htm

ECO/Davis:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/eco-davis.htm

Stiffelio with Domingo on DVD:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/stiffelio.htm

Opera North 2007-8, including a Shakespeare fest:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/opera-north-2007.htm

Jordi Savall; Strauss Lieder; La donna del lago; Bartok Two-piano music

5-star review of Jordi Savall's viola da gamba concert at the Lufthansa Festival of Baroque Music:
www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/sjss-savall.htm

Opera Rara's new release of La donna del lago from last year's Edinburgh Festival:
www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/donna.htm

Anne Schwanewilms sings Strauss Lieder - Hyperion's Complete Strauss Lieder Vol 2:
www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/schwanewilms-strauss.htm

Bartok music for two pianos:
www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/mandarin.htm

Check back soon for reviews of Colin Davis and the ECO, Orfeo at SJSS, Death in Venice and Fidelio at Covent Garden