In review: Classical Opera's Il Vologeso

Review

Perhaps it's true that Jommelli will not be remembered as one of the great composers of his time, but Il Vologeso is a great opera. It's full of love and lust, neglected and abused women, political differences, pride, and just endings. Under Ian Page, the Orchestra of Classical Opera started with a burst of energy that stayed present throughout the night; no two phrases were alike, and the orchestra were main players in the drama alongside the singers.

In review: Los Gavilanes at Toronto Operetta Theatre

Review

In a word, charming. That is what I experienced tonight with Toronto Operetta Theatre and their Canadian premiere of Jacinto Guerrero’s Los Gavilanes at St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. From the simple set to the period costumes, the Spanish orchestration and the simple, well-known tale of love lost (and then found), I was charmed.

In review: Bryn Terfel at Koerner Hall

Review

For musicians, it was a masterclass not only in great singing and excellent playing, but in audience engagement. Terfel, the loveable scamp, managed his very enthusiastic listeners with a genial nature that's normally reserved for cool uncles, panda bears, and Jimmy Fallon.

In review: Tannhäuser at ROH

Review

The dancers moved in a constant, fluid canon, the men tirelessly chasing the teasing women, hurling themselves across a long spinning banquet table, trading clothes and bending their bodies like elastic rag dolls. Visually, it was the high point of the production, relaxing into what became a static tale. It's not inappropriate, to place the audience in the shoes of Tannhäuser himself, who goes from the heights of pleasure and excitement, and returns to the mortal world; indeed, no human stimulation would quite meet of Venusberg.

Great nights: The Dream of Gerontius

Review

Coote and Clayton shared perfect moments of acknowledgement from their places on opposite sides of the conductor's podium. She was stunning to watch; she had such specificity on her face, from her almost-shy greeting of Gerontius, to her wise, tour-guide qualities as she takes him through his first moments in the afterlife.

Paris Reflected at Southwark Cathedral

Review

The whole evening was one that urged us to simply close our eyes and listen. It's always refreshing to hear a well-honed orchestra with so much attention paid to the experience, rather than relying simply on the deep roots of traditional classical concert tropes.

In review: Jenůfa with the Czech Philharmonic

Review

As Jenůfa's mother, Kostelnička, Karita Mattila was a total force. She tore into the role's enormous range and horrific moments of drama with her notoriously brazen energy. She sang wildly at moments, yet it was funneled through a perfect character, one who constantly veers outside the comfortable and controlled.

In review: Javier Camarena at Wigmore Hall

Review

This recital was the best use of the "crowd pleasing" tactic. Camarena chose repertoire with which he just couldn't have gone wrong, but he followed up expectation with perfect delivery. It's no wonder that he holds rank along with Pavarotti and Flórez, as the third singer in 70 years to encore an aria at the Metropolitan Opera.

Magic & theatre: Jurowski and OAE's Resurrection Symphony

Review

Jurowski was the centre of the theatre of this piece, a physical chameleon that inspired and listened to the OAE. He took us through startling interruptions, adorable waltzes, and ugly and distorted folk sounds. The shuffling around onstage and in the audience between the first and second movements were decidedly too much, and too much for Jurowski; in a satisfying demand of the floor, he went from the second movement into the third with a forward-march kind of authority that seemed to scream, "order in the house!"

Heavy nights: Schoenberg & Brahms, the LPO and Goerne

Review

It was Goerne that was the highlight of the night. His is one of the most beautiful baritones singing today, and he was a complete picture of expression. His love for Brahms' music was completely clear, and he sang with his whole body in a huge range of colour. You could certainly hear the Lieder singer as he delivered this heavy text; he risked some soft singing, but gave us some of the more satisfying moments of the Requiem with a triumphant, full sound.