Antonio Pappano RSS feed

Precise humour in L'Heure Espagnole

2009-10-18T23:00:00Z

Nobody could accuse Ravel of resorting to slapstick in his one-act opera L�Heure Espagnole.

Tristan und Isolde is a tragedy in black and white

2009-09-29T23:00:00Z

Tristan und Isolde is austerely monochromatic, Johannes Leiacker's sets (starkly lit by Olaf Winter) evoking the realms of night and day.

Lulu's sorrows of a somnambulist

2009-06-04T23:00:00Z

Berg�s opera Lulu is no stranger to controversy. Today, the moral issues are posed differently.

The best of the best

2008-12-30T11:47:14Z

Who do the experts consider to be the actor, dancer, playwright or conductor at the very top of their game? We asked our critics to give their highly subjective views.

Tales of love and loss in Les Contes d�Hoffmann

2008-11-26T00:00:00Z

John Schlesinger's lavish 1980 staging feels magnificently antique in Les Contes d�Hoffmann, a quaint nod back at a time of plenty.

Music

2008-10-02T11:26:16Z

Live music, be it opera or rock festivals, is proving more popular than ever � and is offering a desperately needed financial lifeline. London remains the heartbeat of the industry.

Donatella Flick is real maestro

2008-10-01T09:01:54Z

Donatella Flick has little time for the BBC's reality show � her �15,000 competition for young talent, takes conducting seriously.

La Fanciulla del West makes impact

2008-09-16T23:00:00Z

We expect the West to be wild but perhaps not as hairily so as in the opening act of Puccini�s Gold Rush opera, La Fanciulla del West.

Don Carlo takes opera to the people

2008-07-02T23:00:00Z

Don Carlo at Covent Garden is the hot opera ticket of the summer - an impassioned production, full of starry names.

Servant turns master in Nozze di Figaro

2008-06-24T23:00:00Z

By skilful recasting, the essence of Nozze di Figaro has been, if anything, enhanced for the latest Royal Opera production.

Musical adventure at Aldeburgh Festival

2008-06-23T23:00:00Z

The audienceat the Aldeburgh Festival sat enthralled, as if collectively stunned by a most Gallic coup de foudre.

Passion unlocked in Don Carlo

2008-06-08T23:00:00Z

National Theatre director Nicholas Hytner's staging of Verdi�s Don Carlo at Covent Garden is absorbing and impeccably cast.

Sex, death and politics

2008-05-12T23:00:00Z

In barely 100 minutes Puccini's Tosca delivers corruption, sexual passion, political insurrection, religious hypocrisy and murder.

There will be blood

2008-04-27T23:00:00Z

The Minotaur is the operatic equivalent of Joy Division or Scott Walker at their bleakest, says Richard Godwin.

The Minotaur's monster performance

2008-04-15T23:00:00Z

Set to a powerful text by poet David Harsent, Sir Harrison Birtwistle�s brilliant new Minotaur storms into life for its world premiere at the Royal Opera House.

The gods come to a glorious end

2007-10-09T23:00:00Z

The staging may have been muddled in the Royal Opera's Gotterdammerung, but this metaphor and cipher-rich production did deliver humanity.

Ring cycle's third spin

2007-10-07T23:00:00Z

Siegfried has the most challeging role in operatic theatre and is often said to be the opera that sorts out Wagner junkies from part-timers.

Walkure on the wild side

2007-10-04T23:00:00Z

Die Walkure is a production almost faultless in dramatic pacing and characterisation, and with an exceptional cast.

Gods, dwarfs and naked nymphs

2007-10-02T23:00:00Z

Those lucky enough to get their hands on a ticket for the sellout Das Rheinhold will find themselves in Wagner heaven.

Rossini given full measure

2007-07-16T23:00:00Z

Antonio Pappano and his orchestra Santa Cecilia were in fine form, revealing endless details that could have got lost in the Albert Hall.

Rescued just in time

2007-05-28T23:00:00Z

The first half of this Fidelio was something of a Sunday afternoon doze - but it jerked into life after the interval, says Fiona Maddocks.

Hytner's back in an epic season at Covent Garden

2007-04-04T10:30:56Z

Nicholas Hytner is to return to the Royal Opera House after a 20 year absence, as the Royal Opera House annouces an epic 2007/08 season.

What impeccable timing

2007-04-01T23:00:00Z

Following his Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk triumph, Richard Jones has returned to Covent Garden with a sparkling double-bill of Ravel at his most inventive and Puccini at his funniest.

The cultural highlights of 2006

2006-12-29T12:41:51Z

From the triumph of Frost/Nixon to pop divas demanding equal opportunities, and a West End song and dance, our critics reflect on 2006.

Pappano packs a powerful punch

2006-12-18T00:00:00Z

One of the LSO's starriest guest conductors, Antonio Pappano drew delighted gasps and a spontaneous round of applause from a capacity audience at the Barbican Hall.

No smoke but plenty of fire

2006-12-11T00:00:00Z

Covent Garden's new Carmen is physical and sexy and has it all: bondage, cleavage, animals, acrobats and a tenor to die for, says Fiona Maddocks.

Great start to a leap year

2006-10-05T23:00:00Z

The company shone as the Royal Ballet leapt into action at the start of its 2006/07 season. But it was the men, says Sarah Frater, who dominated.

Macbeth the magnificent

2006-10-01T23:00:00Z

Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk is high octane opera with brass ablaze and a titanic orchestra at full tilt.

Mini-dramas in their extremes

2006-09-17T23:00:00Z

In recital, Ian Bostridge expects his pianists to express themselves as forcefully as he does. Antonio Pappano, music director of the Royal Opera House, knows a thing or two about singers and vocal drama.

Christina doubles up

2006-08-13T23:00:00Z

Christina Aguilera goes Back to Basics with her latest album, Lambchop's Kurt Wagner is on verbose, melancholy form and jazz diva Etta Jones' has been remastered by Rudy Van Gelder