ROH Katya Kabanova; Violeta Urmana interview on Tosca; Madama Butterfly at Scottish Opera; CDs

Another busy week at MusicalCriticism.com.

Agnes saw Katya Kabanova at the Royal Opera House on Tuesday, in what may be Charles Mackerras' final performance of the piece:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/roh-katya.htm

I interviewed Violeta Urmana about singing Tosca at Covent Garden:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/urmana.htm

Mary reviewed Madama Butterfly in Edinburgh:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/sco-butterfly.htm

I was wowed by one of the latest ROH Heritage recordings - Solti's third production as ROH Music Director, Don Giovanni:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/cd-roh-giovanni.htm

We reported on cast changes in this week's LSO performances of Benvenuto Cellini and ROH Thais:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/cast-changes-thais.htm

Shen Yang was crowned Cardiff Singer of the World:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/cardiff-2007.htm

Rosalind Plowright, Stuart Burrows and Emma Kirkby were honoured by the Queen:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/birthday-honours-2007.htm

I reviewed a peculiar DVD of Sergiu Celibidache conducting Mozart and Schubert:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/dvd-celibidache.htm

Keep reading!

Dominic

New CDs; LSO/Gergiev; Schiff Festival

Una-Frances wrote her first review, of the LSO and Valery Gergiev performing Petrushka:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/lso-petrushka.htm

Agnes provided a summation of her thoughts on the Schiff-Mikrokosmos Quartet's Bartok Festival:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/concerts/bartok-festival-2007.htm

William reviewed the Halle's latest CD, with Mark Elder conducting Wagner to vivid effect:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/halle-wagner.htm

Mary reviewed the Nash Ensemble's Brahms CD:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/nash-brahms.htm

Oh yes, and me. I previewed Scottish Opera's 2007-08 season in anticipation of Mary's reviews next week:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/news/scottish-opera-2007.htm

I regretted not enjoying the Vasari Singers' latest CD:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/recordings/vasari-pott.htm

Don't forget the Cardiff Singer of the World Blog. Jacques Imbrailo was absolutely robbed tonight!:
http://cardiffsingeroftheworld.blogspot.com/

Until next time...keep reading!
Dominic

La clemenza di Tito; Don Giovanni

David McVicar's production of Mozart's penultimate opera returned to ENO:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/eno-tito.htm

Francesca Zambello's production of Don Giovanni returned to Covent Garden with a mixed cast:
http://www.musicalcriticism.com/opera/roh-giovanni.htm

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.