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Reviews
The Pirates of Penzance. Book and Lyrics by W.S. Gilbert. Music by Arthur Sullivan. Wilton's Music Hall, London until 23 Nov & Theatre Royal Bath 2 - 7 Dec, 5☆☆☆☆☆. Review: William Russell.
“Scintillating production.”
Photo credit: Mark Senior.
Silenzio! Fierce Festival, CBSO Centre, supported by Centrala, Friday 18 October, 2024, 5✩✩✩✩✩. Review: Dan Auluk.
“Intense, humorous and reclaiming power in performance.”
Photo Credit: Maurycy Stankiewicz.
The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten, English National Opera; The Coliseum, London WC2, 4☆☆☆☆. Review: Clare Colvin.
“Was the Governess to be trusted as ghost hunter?”
Photo Credit: Manuel Harlan.
Rigoletto WNO, Theatre Royal Plymouth, 17 October 2024, 4✩✩✩✩. Review: Indigo Cleverley.
“An enjoyable performance with talented performers and wonderful music but feels unfinished and rushed at times.”
Photo Credit: Richard-Hubert-Smith.
Judith Weir’s Blond Eckbert: Double Bill, Hackney Empire then touring; English Touring Opera, 4✩✩✩✩. Review: Clare Colvin.
“Murder will out on a dark and stormy night in the Harz Mountains.”
Photo Credit: Richard Hubert Smith.
The Magic Flute by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, 6 Centenary Square, B1 2EP, 4✩✩✩✩. Review: Joanna Jarvis.
"A delightful and funny rendering of Mozart’s final opera."
Photo credit: Lucy J. Toms.
Der Fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman), Persona Arts, The Bradshaw Hall, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham. Final performance 13 July 2024, 3✩✩✩. Review: David Gray & Paul Gray.
“A mostly convincing performance of Wagner’s early masterwork.”
Platée by Jean-Philippe Rameau, Garsington Opera at Wormsley. 29 May – 30 June 2024. 3✩✩✩ Review: Clare Colvin.
“Baroque frog in tall tale by Rameau.”
Photo Credit: Georgie Gulliver.
Death in Venice, Benjamin Britten/Myfanwy Piper, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 11 May 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ David Gray & Paul Gray
“A triumphant production of Britten’s late masterpiece.”
Photo Credit: Johan-Persson
Cosi Fan Tutte – Mozart/Da Ponte, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 May 2024: For the musical performance.5✩✩✩✩✩ for the production itself – 1✩ Review: David Gray.
“Beautiful singing and impressive acting marred by a seriously naff production.”
Image courtesy of WNO
Carmen by Georges Bizet Royal Opera House, Covent Garden London WC2. 4✩✩✩✩ Review: Clare Colvin.
Photo Credit: Camilla Greenwell.
“Change of direction brings new look to Bizet’s ever popular Carmen.”
Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Wilton’s Music Hall, Graces Alley, London E1. 3✩✩✩ Review: Clare Colvin.
“Barber of Seville goes Way out West.”
Photo: Bill Knight.
Cosi Fan Tutte (Opera North) Theatre Royal, Nottingham, 07 and 09 March 2024. 5✩✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff.
“Cosi fan tutte: Opera North’s revival has lost none of its freshness – or ambiguity.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Theatre Royal, Nottingham
Cavalleria Rusticana/Aleko (Opera North)Theatre Royal, Nottingham 06 and 08 March 2024 (touring to Theatre Royal, Newcastle and to The Lowry, Salford Quays till 22 March) 4✩✩✩✩ Review: William Ruff.
“Cavalleria Rusticana and Aleko: compelling but unequal operatic partners.”
Manon Lescaut by Giacomo Puccini, English Touring Opera, Hackney Empire, London E8, then touring till 28 May. 2✩✩ Review: Clare Colvin.
“Tragedy as a surreal nightmare.”
Photo Credit: Richard Hubert Smith
Wagner’s Siegfried: Der Ring des Nibelungen, Regents Opera, Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall, London WC2.4✩✩✩✩ Review: Clare Colvin
“Raw energy to Wagner’s third Ring Cycle opera Siegfried.”
Photo Credit: Steve Gregson Photography
Wagner’s Siegfried: Der Ring des Nibelungen, February 2024 – Sunday 4th, Wednesday 7th, Saturday 10th. Regents Opera, Grand Temple, Freemasons’ Hall, London WC2. 4****: Clare Colvin
Raw energy to Wagner’s third Ring Cycle opera Siegfried
Photo Credit: Steve Gregson Photography
The Handmaid’s Tale by Paul Ruders, until 15 Feb 2024, English National Opera The Coliseum, London, WC2. 4****: Clare Colvin
“Dystopia looms large.”
Photo: Zoe Martin
Jenùfa by Leoš Janácek, London Symphony Orchestra, Barbican Hall, London EC2. 5*****: Clare Colvin.
“Powerfully vivid performance of Janácek’s most moving opera.”
Photo Credit: Barbican.
Verdi’s Falstaff, Opera North,Theatre Royal, Nottingham, 11 November, 2023. 5*****: William Ruff.
‘Opera North’s Falstaff is a production where all the darts score a bullseye.’