Prague, Paris, Barcelona

Platée in Prague

The National Opera in Prague has just revived Platée by Rameau, in a 2024 production staged by the directing duo SKUTR (Lukáš Trpišovský & Martin Kukučka), with musical direction by Václav Luks. Selected as one of the top ten opera productions of the year by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the show was filmed for Arte and Czech Television. The full performance is available to stream on Arte.TV, with subtitles in six languages (French, German, English, Spanish, Italian, Polish).

With Marcel Beekman, Shira Patchornik, Pavla Radostová, Lukáš Zeman, Ruairi Bowen, Tomáš Šelc, Pavol Kubáň, Michaela Zajmi, the State Opera Orchestra, the Collegium Vocale 1704 and Václav Luks.

Nevermind ensemble in Paris

A true rarity: at the Cité de la Musique in Paris, the ensemble Nevermind performed the complete Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach, in their own transcription for flute, violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord and organ. The softness of this unusual instrumental palette brought out an even deeper sense of introspection in the work. Worth noting: their transcription was published the same day by Éditions des Abbesses.

With Anna Besson, Louis Créac’h, Robin Pharo and Jean Rondeau.

Giulio Cesare in Barcelona

Handel’s Giulio Cesare has returned to the stage in a new production at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, directed by Calixto Bieito. As often with the Catalan director, opinions are sharply divided — especially as Bieito did not attend rehearsals himself, entrusting the staging to three of his assistants. Another surprise: the Liceu’s symphony orchestra turned to period performance under the baton of William Christie.

Avec Xavier Sabata, Julie Fuchs, Teresa Iervolino, Helen Charlston, Cameron Shahbazi, José Antonio Lopez, Alberto Miguélez Rouco, Jan Antem, l’Orchestre symphonique du Liceu et William Christie.