The BBC Proms - London
29 March 2024

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Performance reviews

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Il barbiere di Siviglia

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 7

Rossini would have loved the anarchic vigour of Glyndebourne’s The Barber Of Seville at its one night Proms appearance
1 Aug 16 / Express
Glyndebourne’s magnificent, entertaining Rossini at the Proms
28 Jul 16 / Seen and Heard
A Barber with bite as Glyndebourne goes to The Proms
28 Jul 16 / Bachtrack
Glyndebourne Festival Opera’s annual visit to the BBC Proms is always an object lesson in semi-staging
27 Jul 16 / Music OMH
Barber with bite as Glyndebourne goes to The Proms
27 Jul 16 / Bachtrack
All concerned brought off the conception superbly
26 Jul 16 / Opera Today
Surprisingly, this was the first complete Proms performance of Rossini’s indestructible version of Beaumarchais’s comedy
26 Jul 16 / Classical Source
Boris Godunov

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 6

A memorable evening, with inspired performances by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House under Antonio Pappano
24 Jul 16 / Express
Bryn Terfel made Boris’ drama a very human one of vaulting ambition brought crashing down around him
19 Jul 16 / Music OMH
A splendid Boris Godunov at the Proms
19 Jul 16 / Seen and Heard
Bryn Terfel is making a habit of performing Russian patriarchs at the Proms
19 Jul 16 / Opera Today
Royal Opera's spine-tingling Boris Godunov transfers to the Proms
19 Jul 16 / Bachtrack
Even in concert performance it was gripping throughout
17 Jul 16 / Classical Source
Orango

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 6

The Royal Albert Hall was decked out as if for a Soviet rally during the performance of Orango
30 Aug 15 / Express
Waving the flag for Shostakovich's apeman
26 Aug 15 / The Guardian
The composer’s unfinished opera was a head-splitting experience
26 Aug 15 / Financial Times
Shostakovich’s Orango scores a huge hit at the Proms
26 Aug 15 / Seen and Heard
A satire to end all satires
26 Aug 15 / Classical Source
Shostakovich’s Orango keeps the Red Flag flying over South Kensington
26 Aug 15 / Bachtrack
Die Entführung aus dem Serail

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 7

As Konstanze, soprano Sally Matthews was in glorious voice
23 Aug 15 / Express
Glyndebourne very cleverly recreated their super production on the Albert Hall stage
19 Aug 15 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews
Musically, the evening worked very well in the larger setting
18 Aug 15 / Music OMH
Too beautiful for our ears … and too many notes?
17 Aug 15 / Seen and Heard
Sally Matthews sang Konstanze with considerable technical address and some unexpectedly needle-sharp coloratura
17 Aug 15 / Opera Britannia
Turkish delight: Glyndebourne's Die Entführung aus dem Serail
17 Aug 15 / Bachtrack
Glyndebourne at the Proms
16 Aug 15 / Classical Source
L'Orfeo

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 11

A rewarding evening - wonderful
12 Aug 15 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews
Mantua translated to South Kensington: A memorable Orfeo at the Proms
7 Aug 15 / Seen and Heard
All of the soloists were perfectly cast
7 Aug 15 / Music OMH
A collaborative, ensemble piece on all levels
7 Aug 15 / Opera Britannia
Monteverdi's Orfeo forever fresh in Gardiner's hands
7 Aug 15 / Bachtrack
Opulence and animation in abundance
6 Aug 15 / Classical Source
The power of music: a young cast in a semi-stage account of Monteverdi’s first opera
6 Aug 15 / Opera Today
Monteverdi’s masterpiece was performed with a sense of wonder
6 Aug 15 / Financial Times
A capacity audience was clearly enthralled
6 Aug 15 / Telegraph
Monteverdi's Orfeo offers moments of magic
6 Aug 15 / Independent
Achingly moving but hampered by clumsy staging
6 Aug 15 / The Guardian
Fiddler on the Roof

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 5

The BBC Concert Orchestra under conductor David Charles Abell brings zest to the familiar songs
3 Aug 15 / Express
Grange Park Opera triumph at the Proms with Fiddler on the Roof
30 Jul 15 / Seen and Heard
Terfel received a rapturous reception at the curtain call
28 Jul 15 / Opera Today
A charismatic musical theatre prom with Bryn Terfel and the Fiddler on the Roof
28 Jul 15 / Bachtrack
Grange Park’s blend of comedy and poignancy brought the audience to its feet
27 Jul 15 / Classical Source
Elektra

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 13

Both the Proms performances of Elektra and Salome get full marks
11 Sep 14 / The Spectator
Les Atrides ont de beaux jours devant eux
4 Sep 14 / Forum Opéra
A highlight of the season
3 Sep 14 / The Guardian
Semyon Bychkov presides over a magnificent 'Elektra'
3 Sep 14 / Independent
In the end it was Christine Goerke’s compelling madness that swept all before it
3 Sep 14 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews
Supreme Straussians Christine Goerke and Semyon Bychkov bring the composer's fieriest opera to the BBC Proms
2 Sep 14 / What's on Stage
Second Strauss horror-opera of the Proms weekend fails to hit home
2 Sep 14 / The Arts Desk
Enthralling
2 Sep 14 / Telegraph
The Proms celebrated Strauss’s 150th anniversary with a hair-raising duo of operas
2 Sep 14 / Financial Times
The evening was gripping from the first question to the final despairing cry
2 Sep 14 / Music OMH
There will be blood! Christine Goerke's Elektra stuns at the BBC Proms
2 Sep 14 / Bachtrack
Christine Goerke’s Elektra announced herself in deeper voice than one often hears
2 Sep 14 / Boulezian
What can one say, but elektrafying!
1 Sep 14 / Classical Source
Salome

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 11

Both the Proms performances of Elektra and Salome get full marks
11 Sep 14 / The Spectator
Une princesse couronnée en Angleterre
5 Sep 14 / Forum Opéra
Donald Runnicles produced effortless power from his superbly controlled orchestra
3 Sep 14 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews
Nina Stemme is an engaging and sympathetic Salome
2 Sep 14 / Classical-music.com
The Proms celebrated Strauss’s 150th anniversary with a hair-raising duo of operas
2 Sep 14 / Financial Times
Nina Stemme gives a career-defining performance as Strauss' wayward Princess
1 Sep 14 / What's on Stage
A supremely confident interpretation of Richard Strauss's decadent masterpiece
1 Sep 14 / Telegraph
A sensational Salome from Nina Stemme
1 Sep 14 / Bachtrack
Nina Stemme gave as powerful and uplifting a portrayal as one could hope to hear
1 Sep 14 / Classical Source
Lithe, youthful and intensely dramatic performance of the title role
1 Sep 14 / Planet Hugill
Nina Stemme stuns in a giddying account of Strauss's incredible score
31 Aug 14 / The Arts Desk
Salomé's feminine wiles
Salomé's feminine wiles have inspired writers, painters and musicians for 2,000 years.
Der Rosenkavalier

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 7

Glyndebourne was absolutely right to choose Tara Erraught for Octavian
30 Jul 14 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews
Magnificent performances in Strauss's Der Rosenkavalier as part of the Proms
27 Jul 14 / Express
Tara Erraught looks convincing and sounds terrific in this semi-staged version
24 Jul 14 / Evening Standard
Musically this was a terrific performance
24 Jul 14 / Classical Source
Broad comedy eclipses the emotional heart of Glyndebourne’s Prom Rosenkavalier
24 Jul 14 / Bachtrack
Glyndebourne's five-star triumph is repeated at the BBC Proms
24 Jul 14 / What's on Stage
The Albert Hall may not be ideal for opera but Glyndebourne's latest visit fizzed with energy
24 Jul 14 / The Arts Desk
Billy Budd

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 5

The silence at the end bore testament to the musical and dramatic force
1 Sep 13 / The Observer
Another strong year for opera at the BBC Proms
30 Aug 13 / What's on Stage
A performance of guts and energy rather than high polish
30 Aug 13 / Telegraph
Cast, orchestra and conductor come fresh and on-song from Glyndebourne
29 Aug 13 / Evening Standard
A neat craft sails into the Proms, and the Captain shines, but there's always some defect
28 Aug 13 / The Arts Desk
Parsifal

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 9

Elder’s majestic Parsifal spoilt by cast weaknesses
31 Aug 13 / Seen and Heard
The last of the Proms’ seven Wagner operas only fitfully took flight
28 Aug 13 / Financial Times
The Manchester-based Hallé brought the Proms’ Wagner series to a rousing climax
28 Aug 13 / Evening Standard
Bitterly disappointing on many levels
28 Aug 13 / What's on Stage
Under the baton of Sir Mark Elder, the Hallé was on wondrous form
28 Aug 13 / Music OMH
The Hallé played like a company of angels
27 Aug 13 / Classical Source
A shining inner light, and another great use of vast space, in the Proms' final Wagner opera
27 Aug 13 / The Arts Desk
A fitting climax to the series of Wagner operas that has dominated this year's Proms
27 Aug 13 / Telegraph
Elder and the Halle deliver a majestic Parsifal
27 Aug 13 / Independent
The Midsummer Marriage

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 8

Tippett's music in all its odd glory, with blazing music but a dog's dinner of a libretto
23 Aug 13 / The Arts Desk
Tippett’s first opera is staged at Royal Albert Hall
21 Aug 13 / New York Times
It's hard to imagine the piece receiving a better performance than it did here
20 Aug 13 / What's on Stage
Tippett’s libretto is so much psychobabble, but his score bursts with radiant musical ideas
20 Aug 13 / Financial Times
An admirable semi-staging by Kenneth Richardson and BBC forces under Andrew Davis
20 Aug 13 / Evening Standard
A semi-staged performance of Michael Tippett's opera was wonderfully rich
19 Aug 13 / Telegraph
Musically, it’s a rewarding listen
19 Aug 13 / Opera Britannia
Sporting no baton, Davis scored a personal triumph
18 Aug 13 / Classical Source
Tannhäuser

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 8

Kansas-born tenor Robert Dean Smith is a convincing, emotionally touching Tannhäuser
12 Aug 13 / Express
Under Donald Runnicles’ baton, the BBCSO found the drama and expression in Wagner’s opera
7 Aug 13 / Financial Times
When it was good, it was very good
7 Aug 13 / What's on Stage
As with the Ring, a notable feature of this Tannhäuser was the quality of the conducting and playing
7 Aug 13 / Music OMH
The playing was beautifully clear and sensuous
7 Aug 13 / The Guardian
The great Scots conductor matches Barenboim in another Wagner bicentenary spectacular
6 Aug 13 / The Arts Desk
The chorus was the crowning glory of this performance
6 Aug 13 / Telegraph
Triumph for the Deutsche Oper's Tannhauser at the Proms
6 Aug 13 / Independent
Tristan und Isolde

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 5

Without exception, the cast was superb
2 Aug 13 / Music OMH
Of the singers, the Isolde of Violeta Urmana provided the evening’s fulcrum
30 Jul 13 / Opera Britannia
Violeta Urmana made a warm, seductive Isolde, capping her performance with a glassily serene Liebestod
30 Jul 13 / What's on Stage
This performance was something very special
29 Jul 13 / Classical Source
More Wagner at the Proms
29 Jul 13 / Telegraph
10 questions for Semyon Bychkov
The Russian maestro on preparing to conduct Tristan und Isolde at the Proms.
Götterdämmerung

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 7

The Proms' first ever staging of the entire Ring Cycle came to a dramatic climax
1 Aug 13 / What's on Stage
Every one of my preconceptions has been proved wrong
30 Jul 13 / The Guardian
Barenboim’s conducting is an odd, faux-Furtwänglerian mixture of extreme stasis and flailing frenzy
30 Jul 13 / Opera Britannia
Daniel Barenboim concludes his 'Ring', and achieves a defining moment in Proms history
30 Jul 13 / The Arts Desk
Nina Stemme was a glorious Brünnhilde
30 Jul 13 / Classical Source
The Proms may never be the same again
29 Jul 13 / Independent
Nina Stemme crowned the evening with an Immolation Scene that flooded out into the auditorium in an unending stream of perfection
29 Jul 13 / The Guardian
Siegfried

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 7

Lance Ryan is rapidly becoming the Siegfried du jour
30 Jul 13 / Opera Britannia
Lance Ryan was matched by Nina Stemme's radiantly vulnerable Brunnhilde, sung with pinpoint accuracy
30 Jul 13 / What's on Stage
Heldentenor Lance Ryan showed why he is the Siegfried of choice presently
27 Jul 13 / Classical Source
Not quite the transcendent evening many of us were hoping for
27 Jul 13 / Telegraph
Proms setting enhances an opera that glories in the orchestra
27 Jul 13 / The Arts Desk
Another hot evening in the hall, but worth every second
27 Jul 13 / Independent
Siegfried's growing pains sound wonderful
27 Jul 13 / The Guardian
Die Walküre

The BBC Proms


No. of reviews: 11

Spellbinding
29 Jul 13 / The Observer
There were no weaknesses in this second instalment of the ‘Ring’
26 Jul 13 / Financial Times
A Walküre fit for the gods
26 Jul 13 / The Opera Critic
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News & Articles

BBC Proms spotlights opera in 2023 programme
The BBC Proms has announced it’s festival programme for 2023, with a special focus on operatic and choral works.
21 Apr 2023 / Opera Now
BBC Proms announces its 2022 season
Freddie De Tommaso, Alice Coote, Lise Davidsen, Anthony Roth Costanzo and Angel Blue lead BBC Proms' 2022 season
28 Apr 2022 / OperaWire
BBC Proms announce 2020 programme
Musical greats, from the past and the present, will be brought together in one extraordinary Proms season, 17 July - 12 September 2020.
4 Jul 2020 / Opera Today
BBC Proms announces revised summer season plans
The 2020 season will offer a mix of broadcasts from their extensive archives and a two week season of live music.
30 May 2020 / OperaWire
BBC Proms delays season announcement
BBC Proms hopes to remain 'part of the summer' despite delayed season announcement amid coronavirus crisis.
10 Apr 2020 / Evening Standard