Vivier: Rêves d?un Marco Polo

Susan Narucki (); Lani Poulson (); Claron McFadden (); Kathryn Harries (); Karl Daymond (); Johan Leysen ();

Wagner: Das Liebesverbot (Teatro Real)

Christopher Maltman (Friedrich); Peter Lodahl (Lucio); Ilker Arcayürek (Claudio); David Alegret (Antonio); David Jerusalem (Angelo); Manuela Uhl (Isabella); Maria Miró (Mariana); Isaac Galán (Danieli); María Hinojosa (Dorella); Francisco Vas (Pontio Pilato);

"The production by Kasper Holten is excellent: fun, imaginative, lively, and beautifully suited to a comic opera. The sets consist of a house with multiple rooms and stairs which, based upon lighting and the imagination, serves as the whorehouse El Corso, a convent, and even a prison. The colourful costumes respond perfectly to the demands of this opera, or rather operetta (and very near to a musical). To this must be added a superb job of lighting and excellent choreography. Mr. Holten’s direction is outstanding from beginning to end, narrating the story effectively and bringing the action up to modern times. Ivor Bolton was on the podium with the first cast, and his reading was well-suited to the work." (Seen and Heard International)

Wagner: Das Rheingold

John Bröcheler (Wotan); Henk Smit (Alberich); Graham Clark (Mime); Reinhild Runkel (Fricka); Chris Merritt (Loge); Anne Gjevang (Erda);

"Pierre Audi’s Ring really shines!" (Wagner Society)

Wagner: Das Rheingold (Gran Teatre del Liceu)

Falk Struckmann (Wotan); Graham Clark (Loge); Günter von Kannen (Alberich); Lioba Braun (Fricka); Kwanchul Youn (Fasolt);

"Traditionalists need not fear Harry Kupfer and his team (set design: Hans Schavernoch, lighting: Franz Peter David). There's enough convention to be familiar and the modern touches are highly appropriate to the plot and its development. I am looking forward very much indeed to the next three parts of this cycle. It may well prove to be the definitive Ring cycle on film." (Musicweb International)

Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer (Bayreuth Festival)

Samuel Youn (Der Holländer); Franz-Josef Selig (Daland ); Ricarda Merbeth (Senta ); Tomislav Mužek (Erik ); Christa Mayer (Mary ); Benjamin Bruns (Der Steuermann);

"... one revels in Christian Thielemann's masterly handling of the Overture's tempo modifications and, thereafter, the lustrous sonorities that support the singers in this single-act version of the opera... Youn is a particular revelation, with bass qualities to establish the character's emotional weight but also effective baritonal colours that convey anguish with great specificity." (Gramophone)

Wagner: Der fliegende Holländer (De Nederlandse Opera)

Robert Lloyd (Daland); Catherine Naglestad (Senta); Marco Jentzsch (Erik); Marina Prudenskaja (Mary); Oliver Ringelhahn (Der Steuermann Dalands); Juha Uusitalo (Der Holländer);

"... must give utmost praise to conductor Hartmut Haenchen, who offers a whip-smart account of the score..." (International Record Review)