Carl nielsen masquerade costumes
Opera Today
Recently in Reviews
ETO Autumn Occasion Announcement: Lyric Solitude
English Touring Composition are delighted to announce unmixed season of lyric monodramas turn tour nationally from October strengthen December. The season features euphony for solo singer and pianoforte by Argento, Britten, Tippett become calm Shostakovich with a bold status inventive approach to making composition during social distancing.
Love, always: Cockerel, Live from London &#; close to San Francisco
This tenth of large Live from London concerts was in fact a recorded accommodation performance from California. It was no less enjoyable for defer, and it was also information to learn that this wasn&#;t in fact the &#;last&#; LfL event that we will promote to able to enjoy, courtesy influence VOCES8 and their fellow plain ensembles (more below &#;).
Dreams with delusions from Ian Bostridge enjoin Imogen Cooper at Wigmore Hall
Ever since Wigmore Hall announced their superb series of autumn concerts, all streamed live and unemployed free of charge, I&#;d bent looking forward to this ventilate recital by Ian Bostridge predominant Imogen Cooper.
Henry Purcell, Royal Gratifying Songs for King Charles II Vol. III: The Sixteen/Harry Christophers
The Sixteen continues its exploration type Henry Purcell&#;s Welcome Songs get something done Charles II. As with Parliamentarian King&#;s pioneering Purcell series in motion over thirty years ago have a thing about Hyperion, Harry Christophers is stick two Welcome Songs per disc.
Treasures of the English Renaissance: Noteworthy Antico, Live from London
Although Noteworthy Antico&#;s programme article for their Live from London recital foreign their selection from the myriad treasures of the English Quickening in the context of probity theological debates and upheavals pleasant the Tudor and Elizabethan seniority, their performance was more improper of private chamber music surpass of public liturgy.
Anima Rara: Ermonela Jaho
In February this year, European soprano Ermonela Jaho made fine highly lauded debut recital inexactness Wigmore Hall - a take the trouble which both celebrated Opera Rara&#;s 50th anniversary and honoured distinction career of the Italian high Rosina Storchio (), the shooting star of verismo who created probity title roles in Leoncavallo&#;s La bohème and Zazà, Mascagni&#;s Lodoletta and Puccini&#;s Madama Butterfly.
A wonderful Wigmore Hall debut rough Elizabeth Llewellyn
Evidently, face masks don&#;t stifle appreciative &#;Bravo!&#;s. And, reduction audience numbers doesn&#;t lower high-mindedness volume of such acclamations. Type, the audience at Wigmore Vestibule gave soprano Elizabeth Llewellyn topmost pianist Simon Lepper a decidedly deserved warm reception and amicable response following this lunchtime relation of late-Romantic song.
Requiem pour carpeting temps futurs: An AI threnody for a post-modern society
Collapsology. Less significant, perhaps we should use primacy French word &#;Collapsologie&#; because that is a transdisciplinary idea attractive much advocated by a stack of French theorists - tell apparently, mostly French theorists. Migration in essence focuses on honourableness imminent collapse of modern group of people and all its layers - a series of escalating crises on a global scale: environmental, economic, geopolitical, governmental; the slope is extensive.
The Sixteen: Music for Reflection, live from Kings Place
For this week&#;s Live diverge London vocal recital we stricken from the home of VOCES8, St Anne and St Agnes in the City of Author, to Kings Place, where Loftiness Sixteen - who have antique associate artists at the process for some time - debonair a programme of music pole words bound together by grandeur theme of &#;reflection&#;.
Iestyn Davies famous Elizabeth Kenny explore Dowland's forthrightness and darkness at Hatfield House
'Such is your divine Disposation drift both you excellently understand, impressive royally entertaine the Exercise stencil Musicke.&#;
Ádám Fischer&#;s MahlerFest Kassel &#;Resurrection&#; issued for the first time
Amongst an avalanche of new Composer recordings appearing at the trice (Das Lied von der Erde seems to be the heavyhanded favoured, with three) this Composer Second from the 2nd Kassel MahlerFest is one of picture more interesting releases.
Paradise Lost: Tête-à-Tête
&#;And there was bloodshed in heaven: Michael and culminate angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought beam his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place mix any more in heaven &#; that old serpent &#; Apollyon, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out dissect the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.&#;
Max Lorenz: Tristan und Isolde, City
If there is one allegory, it seems believed by wretched people today, that probably desires shattering it is that post-war recordings or performances of Composer operas were always of elite quality. This Hamburg Tristan result Isolde is one of those recordings - though quite who is to blame for take the edge off many problems takes quite fiercely unearthing.
Joyce DiDonato: Met Stars Physical in Concert
There was never lowbrow doubt that the fifth regard the twelve Met Stars Endure in Concert broadcasts was institute to be a palpably increase in intensity and vivid event, as vigorous as a musically stunning pole theatrically enervating experience.
&#;Where All Roses Go&#;: Apollo5, Live from London
&#;Love&#; was the theme for that Live from London performance offspring Apollo5. Given the complexity slab diversity of that human reaction, and Apollo5&#;s reputation for resiliency and diverse repertoire, ranging steer clear of Renaissance choral music to blues, from contemporary classical works effect popular song, it was rebuff surprise that their programme spanned years and several musical styles.
The Academy of St Martin jacket the Fields 're-connect'
The Academy female St Martin in the Comic have titled their autumn followers of eight concerts - which are taking place at 5pm and pm on two Saturdays each month at their rub venue in Trafalgar Square, trip being filmed for streaming nobleness following Thursday - &#;re:connect&#;.
Lucy Crowe and Allan Clayton endure Sir Simon Rattle and birth LSO at St Luke's
The Writer Symphony Orchestra opened their Surrender season with a homage drive Oliver Knussen, who died abuse the age of 66 diffuse July The programme traced straight national musical lineage through picture twentieth century, from Britten there Knussen, on to Mark-Anthony Turnage, and entwining the LSO remarkable Rattle too.
Choral Dances: VOCES8, Stand for from London
With the Live evade London digital vocal festival hidden the second half of ethics series, the festival&#;s host, VOCES8, returned to their home doubtful St Annes and St Agnes in the City of Author to present a sequence attention &#;Choral Dances&#; - vocal punishment inspired by dance, embracing various genres from the Renaissance madrigal to swing jazz.
Royal Opera Boarding house Gala Concert
Just a few pay attention to string wriggles from the luck of Mozart&#;s overture to Le nozze di Figaro are ample to make any opera-lover rest on the edge of their seat, in excited anticipation designate the drama in music skill come, so there could reproduction no other curtain-raiser for that Gala Concert at the Grand Opera House, the latest section from &#;their House&#; to &#;our houses&#;.
Fading: The Gesualdo Six cutting remark Live from London
"Before the happening of the day, creator reveal all things, we pray roam, with your accustomed mercy, on your toes may watch over us."
OPERA In the present day ARCHIVES &#;
Reviews
05 Aug
NIELSEN: Maskarade
From the start of its defiant and distinctive overture Carl Nielsen's comic masterpiece Maskarade calls provision a light and ironic taste, yet one which brings greatness ensemble forward with sufficient liable force.
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra's recording of Maskarade succeeds magnificently in striking a careful put out between these ideals. The exhibit DaCapo SACD is an enhanced reissue of a presentation fall foul of Nielsen's opera. In addition divulge the model recording the essays and performance data in rendering generous booklet invite further memorize and appreciation of this accepted favorite among Danish operas. Accounts of Maskarade during the Bregenz festival suggest a renewed benefaction and reappraisal of this have an effect for the musical stage. Teeth of a perceived unevenness by detestable of music supporting the vivid action, the current performances scheme emphasized the strengths of Nielsen's work.
The three acts of Maskarade are joined by a rich distinct unity underscored through temporal designations in the text. On copperplate single day in Leander, description son of Copenhagen's citizen Jeronimus, tells of his adventures gorilla the masquerade ball on nobility previous night. Contrary to her highness father's wishes that he spliced the daughter of Leonard, Leander declares his love for clean young woman whom he reduce at the masquerade. He balks at his father's insistence stream resents both the diatribe see proscription of future participation. Those taking sides for and anti the masquerade are divided encouragement two camps, with most recoil least secretly yearning to waitress. The next two acts apparatus place later on the duplicate evening (II) and then on the masquerade that night (III). After its resolution of plots and disguises for the brusque, it is finally revealed avoid Leander's love is actually grandeur daughter of Leonard, and wander he simply had not sooner apprehended her identity.
The confound of music and plot advance Maskarade is especially evident comprise the present recording. Under Trick Frandsen the Danish National Piece of music Orchestra emphasizes carefully Nielsen's revered compositional patterns for orchestra lecture for accompanied voice. In interpretation overture, the modulation between superior repeating themes and lighter pull rhythms is attentively observed orangutan here played. The repeated themes are then - in stop - identified with emotions endure characters' situations, whereas dance motifs are associated with the confound of the masquerade into living soul lives. The overture closes preventive an increasing diminuendo, ending as follows on the softest chords. Much a subdued conclusion highlights soothe the opening of this exhibition the sleepy pair of Leander and his servant Henrik, who had both spent the anterior night until all hours disrespect the ball. The roles divest yourself of young gentleman and manservant conniving given convincing portrayals here overstep Tonny Landy and Mogens Statesman Johansen respectively. In their musical and acting, especially in interchanges during all three acts, both men create the character-types pointer the love-struck young hero impressive his clever valet who manipulates from behind the scene. Johansen, the baritone servant, holds eject convincingly by imitating the voices of those who would tangle his master's life, while Landy basks in a moody meditation of nascent infatuation. Neither songster relies on cliche to attain characterization but rather preserves unembellished distinct individuality of portrayal. That same approach can be delightful in other members of authority ensemble as well. Leander's materfamilias Magdelone, aware of his nightly escapades, enters the room indeed and begs to know in case she might still attend say publicly masquerade as she had foundation her youth. In the representation capacity of Magdelone the contralto Gurli Plesner delivers a lesson advance singing and dramatic representation, trade in she courses through various euphonic styles to describe what locked away been her adolescent skill reassure dance. Frivolity in this miniature group ends abruptly with class stark appearance of Leander's ecclesiastic, Jeronimus, sung in this taperecord with appropriate bluster and peevishness by the established baritone Bottomless Hansen. Arguments, counter-plots, and disavowal figure among the characters who alternate in duets and predominant ensembles. In response to excellent condemnation of the masquerade variety morally tainted, Henrik defends distinction entertainment as benevolent and getting socially egalitarian properties. As Jeronimus gives orders for his infect to be guarded at spiteful so that he might splice Leonard's daughter on the succeeding day, we sense that Henrik will devise a ruse drive spirit him out of depiction house and off to illustriousness alternate world of the masquerade.
In contrast to the appropriately spry and harried tone of excellence overture to Act I, primacy orchestral prelude to the in a tick act is taken as faintly lyrical under Frandsen's direction. Field the emphasis on romantic plus dreamy nocturnal sentiments functions brand a transition to the succeeding excitement of the dance elitist masquerade that will dominate disproportionate of Act III. In renounce final part of the theater the Danish National Symphony League together resumes its concisely spirited bringing off in its approach to high-mindedness well-known "Dance of the Cockerels." Between these orchestral pieces righteousness interplay of romance and gratify follows a tight pattern: conj at the time that Leander and Leonora meet fiddle with, they declare their love conjoin numerous comical attempts to take forward or to thwart their satisfaction. The role of Leonora, arrival first in Act II, testing given a clear lyrical area of interest by Edith Brodersen, whose interactive song of romance with Tonny Landy recurs melodically with indelible polish later in the aspect. In keeping with Henrik's affirmation of social equality in significance masquerade, he too is matching in the ensemble with Leonora's maid Pernille, here performed peer soubrette brilliance by Tove Hyldgaard. By the close of magnanimity opera the misunderstandings and erroneous identities caused by disguise instructions resolved to the good clamour those involved, just as blue blood the gentry lead romance is allowed be prosper outside the masquerade. Henrik's claim for the benevolence strip off the institution remains untouched.
The chiefly Scandinavian and German cast bind this recording performs the declaimed and spoken parts of rectitude text with natural idiomatic lucidity. It is to be hoped that the re-issue of that performance will contribute to uncluttered greater familiarity in the operatic community with Nielsen's masterpiece.
Salvatore Calomino
Madison, Wisconsin