Recent opera highlights for grown-ups:
* David McVicar’s new London production of Strauss’s Salome (Royal Opera House) demanded respect, but it failed to engage fully. It had some compelling sub-Wagnerian sounds from the pit, but the principals didn’t really fire my imagination. Occasionally inspired, mostly disappointing.
* Natalie Dessay’s star continues to rise. Following her triumph in last year’s La Fille du Regiment in London – one of the most exciting performances I’ve seen, in any musical genre, in recent years – the French soprano has released some outstanding new product, including Bellini’s La Sonnambula and a must-have compilation, Airs d’Opéras Italiens
Airs d’Opéras Italiens – tracklist: Verdi La TraviataE strano!… Ah, forse è lui – Follie! Follie… Sempre liberaBellini I puritaniO rendetemi la speme – Qui la voce sua soave – Vien dilettoDonizetti Maria StuardaAllenta il piè, Regina – Oh nube che lieve – Nella pace del mesto riposoVerdi RigolettoGualtier Maldé… Caro nomeBellini I Capuleti e i MontecchiEccomi in lieta vesta – Oh! quante volteDonizetti Lucia di LammermoorEccola… Il dolce suono – Ardon gli incensi –S’avanza Enrico – Spargi d’amaro pianto
* Mostly Mozart, the Barbican’s welcome annual mid-summer Mozzafest, bravely pitched against The Proms season on the other side of London, runs this year from 10 July to 2 August, and booking is now open. Highlights include Cosi Fan Tutte, by Garsington Opera, La Clemenza di Tito, starring Alice Coote, and Mozart’s Requiem.
The programme is well worth a look: www.barbican.org.uk
Gerry Smith
MUSIC for GROWN-UPS 