Reviews
A earthy La Boheme that throws away the chocolate box wrapping
26th September 2022Annabel 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 […]
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An ungimmicky and elegant The Makropolus Affair from Welsh National Opera
19th September 2022Welsh 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 […]
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Even the rain gods were charmed by Orphée at Vache Baroque
5th September 2022Vache 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 […]
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If Opera delights its audiences with blossoming talent in Belcombe Court’s gardens
2nd September 2022The 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 […]
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Figaro gets an update and twist at Waterperry Festival Opera
15th August 2022I am late to the party in only discovering what a wonderful experience opera (and dance) is at Waterperry Opera Festival, now enjoying its fifth season at the gorgeous Oxfordshire gardens that gives it its name. All the summer opera festivals have their own feel and what made Waterperry distinctive on this first visit was, […]
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Mansfield Park in an idyllic setting
14th August 2022Jonathan Dove and librettist Alasdair Middleton’s Mansfield Park has been presented in a plethora of performance spaces since first staged in 2011. However, it is difficult to image a more idyllic and ideal venue than the elegant ballroom of Waterperry House which becomes part of the holistic experience of this charming take on the Jane […]
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A mesmerising Rusalka at Garsington Opera
5th July 2022Natalya Romaniw’s performance in Garsington Opera’s first production of Rusalka was delayed by Covid for two years. Then mid-run the Swansea-born soprano tested positive and Elin Pritchard jumped in and by all accounts gave the audience a much-enjoyed performance. By the start of July, Covid-free, the singer returned to the stage, and it was this […]
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One heck of a trip, Janáček’s The Excursions of Mr Brouček
1st July 2022Never shy from letting his imagination run riot on the opera stage, David Pountney and his design team have created a zany and witty production with plenty of contemporary references. It is a pity the Dominic Raab and Angela Rayner snob opera spat (wink and all) had not happened while the show was being put […]
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A sublime Otello at Grange Park Opera
1st July 2022The dark side dominates in David Alden’s sombre Otello for Grange Park Opera. While the tragedy is Otello and Desdemona, the focus of this production is not only how Iago brings about the fatal suspicion, but sadistically enjoys watching the pain he brings about. Yes, with his seductive and glowing baritone Simon Keenlyside excelled as […]
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Welsh National Opera’s innovative Migrations project
1st July 2022June is barely over, and already this is proving to be a very interesting Summer for new operas. This is especially exciting given the existing rhetoric around the idea that opera is an old and dusty artform, incapable of representing the contemporary world, and so it is a special delight to see an increasingly broad […]
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