Opera review of the year

Place your suggestions here for your favourite opera productions/performances/performers/conductors of 2008...

Matilde di Shabran - ROH

Prometeo- RFH!

Patrzia Ciofi as Alaide - La Straniera rec. Opera Rara

My favourite production of the year was WNO's Aida at Cardiff's WMC.

Prior to this production I had only seen Aida in "overblown" productions of gargantuan proportions and WNO's intimate staging and fine orchestral performance brought out nuances that I'd not noted beore. Excellent!

Ok so I'm a tad biased, but both Simon Keenlyside and Gerald Finley deserve special mention for "best performance in the face of directorial adversity". Simon for his totally convincing Don Giovanni the drugs baron at the Liceu Barcelona, and Gerry for his portrayal of Oppenheimer in Adams' Doctor Atomic at the Met - maybe not everyone's operatic cup of tea, but brilliantly performed.

I agree with the first bit - you're 'a tad biased'

the production of 2008 which will remain in my head is the new "Wozzeck"-production in Munich.
Have to admit that it was my first trail with that opera live (had to endure it in music-lesson in school years ago and switched off several broadcasts ) and was shattered:
the production AND esp. Michael Volle as Wozzeck - simply great - a several German critics said he will become the successor of Franz Grundheber who was THE Wozzeck of the last century(ies)
The production is a so called modern one but so convincing and enthralling ...if not to say haunting .... I was glad that the rest of the audience was able to celebrate the singers, I was not! I went home and needed a HUGE glass of red wine to calm me down and make me able to sleep.

the best production in Munich since AGES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wozzeck at the Bastille, despite the terrible accoustics in the hall and the odd staging.

Dominic McHugh wrote:I agree with the first bit - you're 'a tad biased'

"Loyal" maybe...

Sorry if a bit late I have had major computer probs recently and only back on forum.

My highlights would be the Coronation of Poppea at the proms and maybe controversially Don Carlo, although I did see it the night Villazon was off sick and Alfred Kim took over the role. It was worth seeing for Furlanetto and Halfverson alone.

Emotionally shattering ... musically overwhelming - what more could you want!