Year: 2023
Götterdämmerung at Longborough: Catharsis in the Cotswolds
**** One important achievement of Amy Lane’s handling of Götterdämmerung is that it allows the singers and musicians to concentrate their talent and skills on Wagner’s Ring Cycle catharsis without too much over direction. In a confined space it seems sensible to concentrate our focus on the unfolding drama which is all contained in the…
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY AND OPERA NORTH IN TUNE WITH NEW PARTNERSHIP
Newcastle University and Opera North have announced a new three-year collaboration, with the ambition to transform performance practice and audience accessibility through an exchange of knowledge between academic research and the operatic stage. The partnership builds on the two organisations’ history of working together around the Leeds-based opera company’s regular tours to Newcastle and Gateshead….
Mid Wales Opera Thatcher-themed Hansel and Gretel
**** As Mid Wales Opera’s take on Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel came to a close, there was no other conclusion available other than to think this was a job supremely well done by all involved. Every aspect of Mid Wales Opera’s production clicked into place, resulting in a delightfully entertaining and visually arresting show. Gone…
Longborough Festival Opera cast for its 2023 production of Götterdämmerung
Götterdämmerung (29 May – 6 June 2023). A new production for the 2023 festival, Götterdämmerung marks the epic conclusion to Longborough’s new Ring cycle, following acclaimed productions of Das Rheingold in 2019 , Die Walküre in 2021 and Siegfried in 2022. All productions in the cycle are created especially for Longborough by Amy Lane, Artistic Director…
Magic Flute with chaotic youth energy
** I have a huge fondness for the Magic Flute, Mozart’s fantastical operatic quest, as it was the first opera I ever watched. Daisy Evans’ new production of the Magic Flute has clearly tried to do something a bit different and her production does have a chaotic youthful energy. Julia Sitkovetsky For me, the highpoint…
Four new productions at Grange Festival 2023 plus evenings of jazz
The Grange Festival is presenting four new productions (Così fan tutte, Orfeo ed Euridice / Dido and Aeneas and The Queen of Spades) combining new and established singers, including Dame Josephine Barstow as the Countess in The Queen of Spades. The Festival will have three conductors – Kirill Karabits, Harry Christophers and Paul Daniel –…
Longborough Festival Opera announces 2023 programme, including final part of Ring Cycle
Wagner Götterdämmerung29 May – 6 June 2023 Götterdämmerung marks the epic conclusion to Longborough’s new Ring cycle. All productions in the cycle are created especially for Longborough by Amy Lane, Artistic Director of Copenhagen Opera Festival, and Longborough Music Director and eminent Wagnerian Anthony Negus. The Götterdammerung cast includes the talents of Lee Bisset (Brünnhilde),…
Carmélites to premiere in Glyndebourne Festival’s 2023 season
Barrie Kosky’s highly anticipated new production of Poulenc’s devastatingly powerful operaDialogues des Carmélites will premiere at the 2023 Glyndebourne Festival. It wasoriginally scheduled to appear at the event in 2020 before the season was cancelled due tothe COVID-19 pandemic. Set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, Dialogues des Carmélites tells acompelling true story of…
WNO Blaze of Glory! mines a deep musical seam
I have to confess to not really looking forward to an opera about Welsh choirs and coal mines. What next, a contemporary dance about rugby? Oh, we’ve had that. I was very pleasantly surprised by Blaze of Glory!, although I think the name and the supporting artwork really does not do this entertaining musical justice….
Opera North appoints new executive director
Leeds-based opera company Opera North has appointed Henry Filloux-Bennett Executive Director. Henry is currently Executive Director and Deputy CEO of HOME in Manchester. Prior to this, he was the Chief Executive and Artistic Director of the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield and previously the Head of Marketing at The Lowry and Head of Marketing &…