The Olivier Awards has announced its 2026 nominations and for this year, there is only one opera category. The Best New Opera Production was dominated by The Royal Opera with such productions as “The Makropulos Case” from The Royal Opera, “Tosca” from The Royal Opera, and “Die Walküre” from The Royal Opera getting nods. The lone production in the category {…}
(Photo: Camilla Greenwell) Pinching twitching nerves, Czech master Janáček’s angst-ridden “The Makropulos Case” warns of extra life. Lead role Emilia Marty’s present incarnation joins a palimpsest: Eugenia Montez, Ellian MacGregor, Ekaterina Myshkin, Else Müller and the titular Elina Makropulos. A magical elixir has sustained her for three centuries. Strife drives the aria-void work. Through strings unhinged, alarming accidentals and duplicitous {…}
(Photo credit: Tristram Kenton) Profane escapes scale heights heretical in offbeat tales. These contests of one-upmanship with God breed killers; lesser sinners stray with strangers. Dvořák’s unnamed “Spectre’s Bride” – the leading lady of his 1885 cantata – steals away with a dead demon. Four decades later a Chinese adventurer is robbed and killed in Bartók’s “The Miraculous Mandarin,” a {…}
(Credit: Ian Ehm) The Royal Opera House’s 2025-26 season has been in the headlines due to the return of Anna Netrebko for the first time since 2019. But the opening also marks a new era for the company as Jakub Hrůša begins his tenure as music director. He will be the fourth person in the job in 54 years and {…}
The Royal Ballet and Opera has pulled its “Tosca” production from the Israeli National Opera’s 2026 season in Tel Aviv. The news comes following internal pressure from its staff, and the decision was communicated to Royal Ballet and Opera employees on Aug. 1. In a statement, Alex Beard, chief executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera, said, “We have made {…}
The Royal Opera House has named Antonio Pappano, the first Conductor Laureate of The Royal Opera, effective immediately. Following a 22-year tenure as Music Director, the title recognizes Pappano’s legacy as the longest-serving Music Director in Covent Garden history. He conducted over 700 performances from September 2002 to June 2024, and in future Seasons he’ll conduct regularly, including the final {…}
(Credit: Mark Brenner) For the second time in only a few months, I find myself reviewing a production I have seen before where I was initially very critical of what I perceived to be a weak production, creatively, but inexplicably having a change of heart the second time around. So as not to face accusations of hypocrisy or worse, senility; {…}
(Photo: Marc Brenner/Royal Ballet & Opera) Entombing doom in monochrome, director Robert Carsen’s 2022 production of “Aïda” buries its protagonists before they’re dead. Façades of forced conformity define it – popping through parades of khaki uniforms, authentic footage of exploding bombs and regimented training. A fictitious flag that features stars and stripes across red, white and blue confirm its commentary {…}
The Royal Ballet & Opera has announced a cast change for its Jan. 28 performance of “Aida.” The company said, “Riccardo Massi has withdrawn from the performance of ‘Aida’ on Tuesday 28 January due to illness. The role of Radames will be performed by Jorge de León.” De León made his Royal Opera debut in the 2023-24 Season as Canio {…}
(Photo credit: © Camilla Greenwell/Royal Ballet & Opera) Pinching pitches at an apex, Janáček’s “Jenůfa” scales extremes. The opera tells of sextoness Kostelnička Buryjovka, who takes a lethal misstep to protect her stepdaughter. Persuaded Laca will agree to wed Jenůfa if she’s childless, Kostelnička drowns newborn baby Števa. Rue accrues until Kostelnička confesses. Any other art form would attribute her {…}
(Photo credit: © Marc Brenner/Royal Opera) N.B. In this performance of “Tosca” Russell Thomas replaced the previously scheduled Yusif Eyvazov, who was indisposed. Entitlement enlightens spectators on the contrasting and yet comparable personas of soprano Floria Tosca and barbaric chief of police Scarpia: spoiled brats forsaking all who block their way. Sways of a dress’s train portray the former’s annexing {…}