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Reviews
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.’
La Traviata – Verdi, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 11 November, 2023, On tour ‘til 25 November, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray.
‘A glittering deeply moving performance of a much-loved classic.’
Photo: courtesy of WNO
La Rondine, Opera North, Theatre Royal, Nottingham, 10 November, 2023. 4****: William Ruff.
‘Opera North mines a Puccini rarity and unearths its treasure.’
Ainadamar, Osvaldo Golijov, WNO, Birmingham Hippodrome, 07 November, 2023. 5*****: David Gray and Paul Gray.
‘A powerful and thoughtful piece of total theatre.’
7 Deaths of Maria Callas - an opera project by Marina Abramović, English National Opera, The Coliseum, London WC2. 3***: Clare Colvin.
‘Over the top with a drama of divas.’
Photo Credit: Tristram Kenton
La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi The Coliseum, London WC2. 4**** Clare Colvin.
‘ENO’s gripping La Traviata is up to speed.’
Photo: Belinda Jiao
The Coronation of Poppea by Claudio Monteverdi, Hackney Empire, London E8. 3***: Clare Colvin.
‘Monteverdi’s greatest hit is updated in English Touring Opera contemporary new staging.’
Photo Credit: Richard Hubert Smith.
Peter Grimes by Benjamin Britten, English National Opera, The Coliseum, London WC2. 4****: Clare Colvin.
‘ENO triumphs with David Alden’s masterly Peter Grimes in defiant form.’
Photo Credit: Tom Bowles.
The Mikado by Gilbert & Sullivan. Studio 1, the Arcola, 24 Ashwin Street, London E6 to 23 September, 2023. 5*****: William Russell.
‘Titipu titivated triumphantly.’
Photo Credit: Bill Knight
Death Note the Musical in Concert. The London Palladium 21 August, 2023 and then the Lyric, Shaftesbury Avenue for three more performances. 5*****: William Russell.
‘Absolutely enthralling, packed with rousing arias which are belted out!’
Photo Credit: Mark Senior
The Pilgrim’s Progress, Three Choirs Festival, Gloucester Cathedral, Monday 24 July, 2023. 5*****: David Gray & Paul Gray
A triumphant achievement in every respect throughout.