Royal Opera House 23/24 season announced

[Ein Heldenleben]

New season announced today . A fairly conservative one in the main house - all 3 pop Puccini’s , Cav and Pag and Carmen. Little 20th century opera. I was going to rejoin as a Friend. Not sure I will now. Maybe I’m getting too cynical but I can see Georghiu ( Mimi) and Kaufman ( Chenier ) competing in the late cancellation stakes and I’m not sure Bryn Terfel’s voice is up to the Flying Dutchman anymore. Might give Elektra a go but Stemme is developing a wideish vibrato.

On a positive note I’ve seen some very good reviews of Christopher Maltman’s recent Wotan in Naples . He’s in the new production of Das Rheingold.

https://www.roh.org.uk/news/the-royal-opera-house-announces-2023-24-season

[Master Jacques]

"Fairly conservative" is the phrase. Museum fare, with too many superannuated falling stars, which will send London a little further down the international league table. It's a question of lack of vision, rather than lack of money. Sad times.

[LHC]

I agree that it is a conservative and distinctly underwhelming season.

I was surprised to see Barrie Kosky's Cabaret-style Carmen being replaced so quickly (it was premiered in 2018 and only revived once I think), I can only assume it wasn't the popular success they were hoping for.

I suspect that Kaufmann may well turn up, if only to be part of Pappano's final season, but I'd be much less confident about Gheorghiu. If she does come, they'll need to install a prompt box into Jones' Boheme set.

I think Stemme's Elektra was originally scheduled for 2020, but was cancelled because of the lockdown.