Great expectations surrounded, for several reasons, the premiere of the new production of Tristan und Isolde at Gran Teatre del Liceu. Chief among them was the fact that Lise Davidsen, one of the most highly regarded Wagnerian sopranos of the present day, would be singing Isolde for the first time in her career, one of the most demanding female roles in the operatic repertoire in every respect. Another source of expectation was that a woman, Susanna Mälkki, would be taking the...

The success that Nadine Sierra achieved last January with La Traviata was already enormous, but what she has achieved now with La Sonnambula is even greater and consecrates her as the new undisputed queen of the Liceu. Sierra has it all: her voice is beautiful, warm and lyrical in the centre, brilliant and sharp at the top, her breath control is exceptional, and her projection is optimal. She has an easy stratospheric treble, regulates the dynamics exquisitely in any area of the...