We left at the interval...

Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Paris, Wednesday March 15 2023 Conductor: François-Xavier Roth. Production: Olivier Py. Sets and Costumes: Pierre-André Weitz. Lighting: Bertrand Killy. Le Rossignol Le Rossignol: Sabine Devieilhe. Le Pêcheur / 1er émissaire japonais: Cyrille Dubois. La cuisinière: Chantal Santon Jeffery. Le chambellan: Laurent Naouri. Le bonze: Victor Sicard. 3e émissaire japonais: Rodolphe Briand. 2e émissaire japonais: Francesco Salvadori. Empereur de Chine: Jean-Sébastien Bou. La mort: Lucile Richardot. Les Mamelles de Tirésias Thérèse-Tirésias / La Cartomancienne: Sabine Devieilhe. Le Directeur de théâtre: Laurent Naouri. Le mari: Jean-Sébastien Bou. Le gendarme: Victor Sicard. Le Journaliste parisien / Monsieur Lacouf: Cyrille Dubois. Le Fils / Une grosse dame: Rodolphe Briand. Une dame élégante: Chantal Santon Jeffery. La Marchande de journaux: Lucile Richardot. Monsieur Presto: Francesco Salvadori. Les Siècles, Ensemble Aedes. Photo: Vincent Pontet, TCE ' Perfo

The 'pick of the month' in recordings section of the March 2023 issue of France's Opéra Magazine is a recital of 'delightful 19th-century rarities' served up by Cyrille Dubois and the Orchestre National de Lille under Pierre Dumoussaud. The CD, from Alpha Classics and bearing the Bru Zane stamp, is awarded the magazine's 'Diamond' for outstanding achievement, but not, I hope for its egregiously silly title ' So Romantique !' The rarities in question are arias from the likes of La Barcarolle, Pedro de Zalamea, Le Roman d'Elvire, Les Mousquetaires de la reine, Gibby la Cornemuse , and so forth... It is, says the reviewer, 'A precious disc, rich in discoveries, which confirms the remarkable talent of an exceptional performer.'

Auditorio Nacional, Madrid, Sunday February 26 2023 Conductor: Harry Bicket. Solomon: Ann Hallenberg. Solomon's Queen and First Harlot: Miah Persson. Queen of Sheba: Elena Villalón. Zadok: James Way. A Levite: Brandon Cedel. Second Harlot: Niamh O'Sullivan. The English Concert. The Clarion Choir. Ann Hallenberg has no engagements in France this year, so although recently back from an expensive trip to Los Angeles, I decided to bite the bullet and go to Madrid for the weekend to hear this Solomon . 'It's only money,' as a late friend used to trill: plaie d'argent n'est pas mortelle , as the French say, though sometimes it can be painful for a while. Living in France, I'm used to Händel by the likes of Christie, Minkowski, Rousset or Haïm. This was my first live encounter with Harry Bicket's English approach. I suspect he isn't everybody's cup of tea, as by 'HIP' standards, he goes - or at any rate went on Sunday evening - for a big, or