Jaroslav Březina News
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Salzburg Festival (5) - Katya Kabanova, 26 August 2022
FelsenreitschuleKatěrina Kabanova – Corinne Winters Marfa Ignatěvna Kabanova (Kabanicha) – Evelyn Herlitzius Varvara – Jarmila Balážová Boris Grigorjevič – David Butt Philip Váňa Kudrjáš – Benjamin Hulett Tichon Ivanyč Kabanov – Jaroslav Březina Savël Prokofjevič Dikoj – Jens Larsen Kuligin – Michael Mofidian Glaša – Nicole Chirka Fekluša – Ann-Kathrin NiemczykBarrie Kosky (director)Rufus Didwiszus (set designs)Victoria Behr (costumes)Franck Evin (lighting)Christian Arseni (dramaturgy)Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus (chorus director: Huw Rhys James)Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra,Jakub Hrůša (conductor)Images: SF / Monika Rittershaus For me, Barrie Kosky has often been at his best when staging more serious operas, which do not lend themselves to his trademark ‘showbiz’ treatment, and for which he has shown a single-mindedness again quite different from what other stagings may have led us to expect. Pelléas, Rusalka, Eugene Onegin, and Iphigénie en Tauride spring immediately to mind. Others differ strongly, I know, so it is probably more a matter of taste […]
2019-09-28 15:37:38
A terrific company achievement: Martinu's The Greek Passion at Opera North
Martinu: The Greek Passion - Magdalena Molendowska, Richard Mosley-Evans, Paul Nilon, Rhodri Prys Jones, Nicky Spence, Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts- Opera North (Photo Tristram Kenton) Martinu The Greek Passion; Nicky Spence, Magdalena Molendowska, Stephen Gadd, John Savournin, Paul Nilon, Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, dir: Christopher Alden, cond: Garry Walker; Opera North at Leeds Grand Theatre Reviewed by Robert Hugill on 27 September 2019 Star rating: 5.0 (★★★★★) Martinu's powerful, epic opera as concentrated modern drama Martinu: The Greek Passion - Nicky SpenceOpera North (Photo Tristram Kenton) Considering it was written for Covent Garden in 1957, Bohuslav Martinu's The Greek Passion has rather a strange history in the UK. Rejected by Covent Garden at the last minute (probably through a combination of the work's experimental form and nervousness about issues surrounding the problems in Cyprus), Martinu offered the opera to Zurich. But the changes required by that […]
2018-11-28 04:15:00
[…] him to see only the feet of those who pass by. Ivan Kusjner sings Martin, his deep baritone suggests a down-to-earth working man. The chorus (Martinů Voices) surround him with ethereal harmonies. Martin has almost given up on life. A sorrowful solo violin plays, as Martin's lines are solemnly intoned, the choir repeating his words, like a response in church, the pattern reflected in the balance bewteen the two Narrators, Josef Špaček (spoken) and Jaroslav Březina (tenor). A vision appears, embodied in the voice of the alto Ester Pavlů, who tells Martin that she will visit him the next day. A very Bohemian sunrise, with horns, pipes and jaunty strings. Zig-zag piano lines suggest the street outside Martin's workshop, full of busy people rushing past. Though he's waiting for his special visitor, he welcomes in old Stepanovich (the bass Jan Martiník) and gives him shelter from the snow. Martin spots […]
2016-04-21 01:55:00
Exceptionally prescient : Janáček Jenůfa - Belohlávek. Mattila
Highlight of the whole opera season so far this year : Leos Janáček Jenůfawith Jirí Belohlávek his team from the Czech Philharmonic, and Karita Mattila making her debut as Kostelnicka Buryjovka.. British audiences embraced Janáček even during his lifetime.and Rafael Kubelik introduced him to Covent Garden, Belohlávek has transformed the whole way in which Czech repertoire is received in this country. This Jenůfa continues Belohlávek's mission to present Czech music affirming its idiomatic individuality, fueled by intiuitive feel for language and culture. From Belohlávek we've had outstanding Smetana,Janáček,Dvorak, Suk and Martinů, so expectations were, and totally fulfiilled. Exceptional playing from the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. When they come to London with Belohlávek, they seem to put their souls into performance. The dynamism and verve they brought this Jenůfa to vivid life. This performance was intense, yet clear-sighted, giving context to the extreme emotions in the […]
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