Month: September 2022
A earthy La Boheme that throws away the chocolate box wrapping
Annabel Arden’s 2012 production of La Boheme, now revived by Welsh National Opera for the second offering of its 2022 autumn season, gives its audience a largely straightforward telling of the doomed love affair of Mimi and Rodolfo. The only real “take” on the work is setting the opera in the early 20th century, perhaps…
An ungimmicky and elegant The Makropolus Affair from Welsh National Opera
Welsh National Opera was a groundbreaker in bringing Janáček’s operas to UK audiences, thanks to remarkable musical and artistic leadership in its younger days. Now, the company is sensibly building on the specialism of its music director Tomáš Hanus to introduce the works to new audience members. Thus, a short cycle of revivals ending with…
Even the rain gods were charmed by Orphée at Vache Baroque
Vache Baroque Festival marked its third year with a theatrically entertaining production of Charpentier’s La descente d’Orphée aux enfers underpinned with fine musicianship and elegant singing. The predominantly, but not totally, young cast was both fresh and enthusiastic, with some particularly impressive singing for this rare performance of the delicate chamber opera. Music director and…
If Opera delights its audiences with blossoming talent in Belcombe Court’s gardens
- 2nd September 2022
- Reviews
- Belcombe Court
- Bettine John
- Bradford on Avon
- Bristol Ensemble
- Bruno Ravella
- Christopher Gillet
- Clover Kayne
- Donizetti
- Flavio Graff
- If Opera
- Jack Dolan
- Jessica Hope
- Joseph Bockmaster
- Katherine McIndoe
- Kieran Rayner
- La rondine
- Lara Maree Müller
- Lorena Paz Nieto
- Meinir Wyn Roberts
- Natasha Page
- Oliver Gooch
- Olivia Clarke
- Philip Smith
- Puccini
- Ryan Vaughan Davies
The enthusiastic response by audiences to If Opera’s 2022 season has demonstrated there is clearly an appetite for this repertory ensemble approach by the ambitious rebranded company, formerly Iford Arts. Taking place in the grounds of Belcombe Court no doubt added to the overall enjoyment of the festival experience. But the hearty responses to the…