Just in: Covent Garden has 11 new shows next season
NewsThe Royal Opera House has just rolled out 2022-23.
The new productions include Kaija Saariaho’s opera Innocence, directed by Simon Stone; Dvorak’s Rusalka, with Asmik Grigorian in the title role; a new Aida staged by Robert Carsen, with Elena Stikhina alternating as heroine with Angel Blue; Il trovatore directed by Adele Thomas; and Antonio Pappano conducted a farewell Wozzeck, the Alban Berg opera he conducted in his first ROH season in 2002, directed by Deborah Warner.
Handel’s Arminio, unseen at Covent Garden since 1737, gets a revival; and Richard Jones will direct Alcina. Royal Opera chief Oliver Mears will take on Britten’s Rape of Lucretia.
The logorrheic PR blurb says this production will be ‘shattering’, which seems to be tempting fate.
I listened to Asmik’s “Song to the Moon” and Elena in “Aida” …. the best choice to my ears … “Aida” was of the golden days of opera performances … just my opinion, of course 😉
It’s clear from the listings that the new production of Il Trovatore was intended for Netrebko (her husband is still listed as Manrico, but the singer for Leonora is now ‘TBC’).
It will be interesting to see who is eventually engaged, and indeed if opera houses will continue to engage Yusif Eyvazov now that Netrebko is no longer guaranteed to appear alongside him.
Possibly also for the later dates for Turandot which are still TBC.
I wonder if they can fire Yusif Eyvazov without paying him, probably stuck with him for now
Whence this fad for saying “TBC” when it should be “TBA”? To confirm something is to firm up something that has already been announced provisionally.
Love a bit of pedantry.
While they’re at it, they can change the announcements they make towards the end of the interval. “The performance will continue in five minutes.” No, the word is resume because it stopped and now it’s starting again.
Not pedantry, just accuracy.
The most interesting detail in next year’s schedule is the casting of Il Trovatore. Eyvazov as Manrico, with Leonora “TBC”. What are we to make of this? Is the ROH keeping a slot for his wife but doesn’t want to announce it just yet?
“…which seems to be tempting fate…” Hilarious aparté, which
made me laugh out loud…a good way to start the afternoon! Thanks.
Eh, how much different will this new production of Aida be from every other one? I can’t blame the met for sticking with Sonja Frisell’s production for 30+ years.
I can remember the disastrous new Ponnelle 1983/4 Aida with Mehta conducting an out of form Pavarotti and a constantly under the note Ricciarelli. The only good thing about that performance was the excellent debut of Paata Burchuladze. Although the National Westminster Bank had put up considerable cash to sponsor the production, it was a turkey with no Grand March resulting in the worst booing I have heard at the ROH. The production was thereafter consigned to the scrap heap. Hopefully the new production will show improvements.
The ROH has had three Aida productions in the meantime (Elijah Moshinsky 1994, Bob Wilson 2003, David McVicar 2010).
John, I know that you and Sally will not want to miss the performance of Saariaho’s opera. I would like to meet both of you in person when you are in London.