... on the topic of rarely-seen operas in performances abroad, next week has a pretty good crop here in Moscow...

on 03-Feb, whilst not exactly an "opera", Jonathan Powell will be playing the Sorabji transcription of the final scene of SALOME in his Moscow recital,  and he's joined for one number by mezzo-soprano Ksenia Vyaznikova (from Prozrachny Teatr & Helikon Opera), who has another operatic rarity, "The Song Of Grusha The Gypsy", from Schedrin's opera "The Enchanted Wanderer" (NYC, 2004)... quite a bravura number for both singer and pianist     (Pretty-much sold-out now)

on 05-Feb,  the Mariinsky bring their production of SALOME to Moscow, performing at the Bolshoi Theatre, with Gogolevskaya in the title role.  (Utterly sold-out)

on 06-Feb, you get a chance to see the award-winning Helikon Opera production of DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES (in which Ksenia Vyaznikova is singing the Old Prioress, and Tatiana Kuinji is singing Blanche).  (a few tickets left)

on 07-Feb, there is the premiere of a new production of MAISKAYA NOCH' (MAY NIGHT), a rarity by Rimsky-Korsakov, at the Stanislavsky-Muzykalny Opera Theatre.  (some standing places available on the day for £8)

and to fill in the evenings in the middle, British lutenist LYNDA SAYCE is giving a recital at the Moscow Conservatoire on 4th Feb too (sold-out)

Kung hei fat choy!!  (Happy Chinese New Year! - 7th Feb).