Author: Mike Smith
The Abduction from the Seraglio
Mozart Süreyya Opera Sahnesi, Istanbul There is something special seeing a performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s opera “The Abduction from the Seraglio” in Istanbul, which is, of course, where the opera is set. However, the venue is not the Topkapi but a gorgeous 1920s theatre. This absolute jewel of a theatre is in the Kadiköy…
Genuinely funny and beautifully sung, Il turco in Italia, Glyndebourne Autumn Season 2024
Il turco in Italia, Gioachino Rossini For the first time revived at Glyndebourne, the 2001 production by French director Mariame Clément is truly entertaining and very enjoyable. The concept of the piece revolves around a contemporary writer, Prosdocimo, suffering from writer’s block, who flips through a travel magazine and creates all sorts of characters and…
New cast members delight in Il triticco, Puccini, Welsh National Opera
This production of Il trittico belonged to the new cast members, who brought even more energy and vibrancy to the stage. While the original cast was impressive, the new lineup delivered unforgettable performances across all three operas. The entire cast was superb, but there were definitely standout performances that made this revival really shine. Andrés…
Mid Wales Opera fights on with Pagliacci
Mid Wales Opera has saved Arts Council of Wales funding annhiliation to be able to annoucce that tickets are now on sale for their upcoming SmallStages production of Pagliacci. The SmallStages tour of Pagliacci is a continuation of MWO’s commitment to bringing high-quality opera to communities across Wales and the Borders and will run from October…
Welsh National Opera, Rigoletto: Latex, knickers and lots of wigs. Thankfully some very fine singing.
It is quite an achievement, making the womanising Duke of Mantua the only likeable character in Rigoletto. This was despite Raffaele Abete not giving the finest of the vocal performances of the evening. They belonged to the Rigoletto of Daniel Luis de Vicente and Gilda from Soraya Mafi. Admittedly Abete was not the originally cast…
The Sound Voice Project to take up residency in the Linbury Theatre
The Sound Voice Project is a collaboration between people with lived experience of voice loss, opera singers Roderick Williams and Lucy Crowe, composer Hannah Conway, librettist Hazel Gould and professionals from across the biomedical research, technology and healthcare sectors, with video design by Luke Halls and sound design by David Sheppard. The installation is comprised…
Pergolesi’s L’Olimpiade, Vache Baroque
Vache Baroque is now established as a late summer treat, with its combination of interesting and well-performed operatic choices and fun associated events in the grand house’s grounds. This year’s choice is Pergolesi’s L’Olimpiade and the setting of the 17th-century Buckinghamshire elegant building provides a suitable backdrop for this piece of baroque brightness – and…
Waterperry Opera Festival 2024
Waterperry Opera Festival made the most of the glorious Waterperry Gardens and the elegant Georgian house for a veritable musical feast of summer lushness. This young, dynamic festival has developed into a real summer highlight. The Festival makes excellent use of the different spaces available for performance with the elegant period house that edges the…
If Opera: Lucia di Lammermoor and Die Fledermaus
- 25th August 2024
- Reviews
- Alexey Gusev
- Ángel Macías
- Annie Fassea
- Belcombe Park
- Bethany Horak-Hallett
- Bradford on Avon
- Die Fledermaus
- Donizetti Lucia di Lammermoor
- Edward Leach
- Felix Kemp
- Galina Averina
- If Opera
- Matthew Siveter
- Oliver Gooch
- Paul Curievici
- Robyn Allegra Parton
- Sascha Reckert
- Simon Butteriss
- Strauss
- t Felix Kemp
- Thomas Blunt
- Thomas Guthrie
- William Meinert
Whether it is the most lavishly funded opera house or an independent summer festival, opera should be about the singing. Production qualities are important but must be seen as secondary. Sadly, this is not often the case. However, at the fascinating If Opera this short season you can see a performance of Donizetti’s Lucia di…
Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Offenbach Salzburg Festival
***** The delight in concept over content marked the approach of French director Mariame Clément to the difficult to stage Tales of Hoffman. Here she decided to make it a drunken, fallen, film director showing reels of his work with women with whom he had disastrously fallen in love. It is ultimately revealed that they…