Opera

Fat Lady Sings - Opera reviews

As a fan of the Opera (and Ballet), I try and go as often as I can. When I worked there, we had frequent opportunity to go to rehearsals, something I still sometimes get to go to. Here are a few reviews from things I've seen.

Il Trovatore (Verdi) - ROH 2002

The rehearsal was so good, I'm going to see the live performance as well. A stellar cast! Shame the scene changes took sooooo long. Dmitri was the best singer, but what competition! How do they sing and sword fight at the same time?

Performers: Dmitri Hvorostovsky(Count di Luna), Jose Cura(Manrico), Veronica Villarroel(Leonora), Yvonne Naef(Azucena), Tomas Tomasson(Ferrando)

La Sonnambula (Bellini) - ROH 2002

Everyone surprised by someone sleep walking in a sanatorium - hmmm. Regardless of the reviews, I thought it was funny. Maybe not what Bellini intended, but I liked it. (Juan was fab as usual).

Performers: Juan Diego Florez(Elvino), Elena Kelessidi(Amina), Inger Dam-Jensen(Lisa), Graeme Broadbent(Alessio), Anne Mason(Teresa).

Don Giovanni (Mozart) - ROH 2002

Wow! Who'd have thought of Bryn as Don Giovanni. Long hair, bare chest - grrrrh!

Performers: Bryn Terfel(Don Giovanni), Alan Held(Leporello), Adrianne Pieczonka(Donna Anna), Robert Lloyd(Commendatore), Rainer Trost(Don Ottavio), Melanie Diener(Donna Elvira)

The Bartered Bride (Smetna) - ROH 2001

A light piece with fab music and good ensemble singing. Incredible acrobatics!

Performers: Susan Gritton(Merenka), Paul Charles Clarke(Jenik), Jeremy White(Kecal), Alan Opie(Krusina), Yvonne Howard(Ludmila), Timothy Robinson(Vasek)

Die Entfurhrung Aus Dem Serail (Mozart) - ROH 2001

This a weird opera. Oliver Tobias stole it for me, because Pasha doesn't sing, and Tobias 'heavy breathed' every line. Sexxxy! Kurt Rudl is outrageous as Osmin! Excellent production.

Performers: Kurt Streit(Belmonte), Kurt Rudl(Osmin), Peter Bronder(Pedrillo), Christine Schafer(Konstanze), Caroline Stein(Blonde), Oliver Tobias(Pasha Selim)

La Traviata (Verdi) - ROH 2001

As I wipe the last remaining tears of joy from my cheeks, my week has been completed by this oh so wonderful performance. Not quite as good musically as The Queen of Spades (I'm nit picking - it was still great), but oh so glorious in it's overall production. Dmitri twice in one week! He still sings Germont better than anyone else (he's on my CD as well). And Darina's Violetta would eat Guiseppe's Alfredo for breakfast! She should have gone for Germont - I would have!

Performers: Darina Takova(Violetta), Guiseppe Filianoti(Alfredo), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Germont), Roderick Earle (Baron Douphol), Gillian Knight (Annina), Leah-Marion Jones (Flora Bervoix).

The Queen of Spades (Tchaikovsky) - ROH 2001

All the singing is excellent, although the production isn't. I saw this from the amphitheatre, where you can't see the stage as clearly but you can hear the singing. This is the best place to be for this production. Without considering it was a rehearsal I saw, the singing was great and even the minor characters sang well. I mainly went to hear Dmitri H. who had only one aria but sang it gloriously (as always). It was memorable for the sheer quality of singing from everyone - rare enough in a main performance - even more impressive for a rehearsal. Watch out for Vlad and Karita, they'll be back again I'm sure. I also liked that Vlad played Gherman as an insincere (gay?) lover.

Performers: Vladimir Galouzine (Gherman), Nikolai Putilin (Count Tomsky), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Prince Yeletsky), Josephine Barstow (Countess), Karita Mattila (Liza).

La Cenerentola (Rossini) - ROH 2001

This production is brought up to the 1940's, which sounds strange, but works very well; I'd never have thought of the courtiers being papparazzi. This is the funniest performance I've seen in a long time - and it makes such a change to see all the performers enjoying it as much as the audience. Well done Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier for such an inventive production.

Watch out for Juan Diego Florez - he's cute (if a bit short) and can sing like a dream. The ugly sisters are very funny too - just sufficiently petulant, greedy, sluttish etc. The Rolls Royce was a nice touch, and you'll love the wings. The finishing 'round' is very well done too.

Performers: Sonia Ganassi (Angelina), Nicole Tibels (Clorinda), Leah-Marian Jones (Tisbe), Simone Alaimo (Don Magnifico), Juan Diego Florez (Don Ramiro), Marcin Bronikowski (Dandini), Michele Pertusi (Alidoro).

Palestrina (Pfitzner) - ROH 2001

Very long, a bit heavy but excellently sung. If I hadn't had a raging dose of flu at the time, I probably would have enjoyed it more.

Performers: Philip Langridge (Palestrina), Sophie Koch (Silla), Christiane Oelze (Ighino), John Tomlinson (Borromeo)

Der Rosenkavalier (Richard Strauss) - ROH 2000

Excellent production, and Renee Fleming is fabulous!

Performers: Renee Fleming (The Marschallin), Susan Graham (Octavian), Chaz Fitzgerald (Mohammed), Franz Hawlata (Baron Ochs).

Falstaff (Verdi) - ROH 2000

I liked this so much, I went twice and recorded it on video. Falstaff must be the most revolting person I've ever seen on stage (or anywhere), or want to see. Bryn sings him magnificently (even he needed padding). The sloping stage is great (how do they not fall off?).

Performers: Bryn Terfel (Falstaff), Dr Caius (Robin Leggat), Bardolph (Peter Hoare), Gwynne Howell (Pistol), Diana Montague (Mrs Meg Page), Barbara Frittoli (Mrs Alice Ford), Bernadette Manca di Nissa (Mistress Quickly), Desiree Ranacatore (Nannetta).

The Greek Passion (Martinu) - ROH 2000

I wasn't sure about going to see this, but enjoyed it. I'm not into religious stuff normally, but this was quite uplifting. Only problem was - I kept thinking people were going to fall off the scenery. Which was huge, complex, very impressive and moving (!).

Performers: Richard Angas (Aga), Esa Ruuttnen (Grigoris), Jorma Silvasti (Manolios), Roderick Earle (Kostandis), Timothy Robinson (Yannakos), Peter Auty (Michelis), Robin Leggate (Panait), Jenny Grahn (Lenio), Gwynne Howell (Fotis), Marie McLaughlin (Katerina)

Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) - The Chisinau National Opera 2000

Hmm, I love this opera but this was not the best I've ever seen. Once I'd stopped grimacing through the less than perfect singing it was ok. I guess. Nice costumes (better than the ROH!).

Performers: Petru Racovita (Figaro), Vera Draganiuc (Suzanna), Iurie Gisca (Count Almaviva), Ludmilla Aga (Countess Almaviva), Tatiana Busuioc (Cherubino).

La Traviata (Verdi) - echoOpera 2000

This was ok if not very inspiring. Better than sitting at home.

Performers: Louise Cannon (Violetta), Jeffrey Stewart (Alfredo), Andrew Rivera (Germont), Marcus Linhares (Gaston), Kevin McRae (Baron Douphol)

Tosca (Puccini) - ROH 2000

This was fantastic. I thought Roberto was almost as good as he thought he was! I think the bravo he got halfway through must have been someone from the Guinness book of records measuring his breath control. Anthony M-M could have been more sinster as Scarpia, but he was better than the reviews said he was.

Performers: Roberto Alagna(Caveradossi), Catherine Malfitano (Tosca), Anthony Michels-Moore (Scarpia), Roderick Earle (Angelotti).

Madama Butterfly (Puccini) - The Chisinau National Opera 1999

More cringe worthy singing. I don't know why I keep going to see this group. No, this is unfair - they aren't that bad, just no where near as good as the ROH.

Performers: Mariana Colpos (Madama Butterfly), Nicolae Busuioc (Pinkerton), Nicolae Covaliov (The Bonze), Liliana Lavric (Suzuki), Petru Racovita (Sharpless).

La Traviata (Verdi) - ROH 1998

Wow, this was fantastic. Dmitri's aria in act 2 was so good, the house went ooooh before applauding! Unfortunately this was the Albert Hall, and we were sitting in the back row, so needed several changes of dry clothes and a telescope to see anything. We're going to see it again this year! At the front!

Performers: (Violetta), (Alfredo), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Germont), (Gaston), (Baron Douphol).

Giulio Cesare (Handel) - ROH 1998

Pleasant and entertaining.

Performers: Ann Murray (Guilio Cesare), Amanda Roocroft (Cleopatra).

Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) - ROH 1998

I don't like this production. It's cold and boring. Dmitri was good as usual, Neal wasn't. I guess a rehearsal is too much trouble for some.

Performers: Neal Davies (Figaro), Nuccia Focile (Susanna), Dmitri Hvorostovsky (Count Almaviva), Gillian Webster (Countess Almaviva), Dagmar Peckova (Cherubino).

Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart) - OperaMozart (Prague) 1998

Definitely the best production I've seen. The costumes and scenery were completely outrageous, the singing was heartfelt. I have no idea why Cherubino couldn't stop laughing throughout Voi Che Sapete (he was standing on a revolving table) but it made all the audience laugh so go figure.

Performers: Zdenek Musil (Figaro), Michiyo Keiko(Suzanna), Ales Hendrych (Count Almaviva), Dana Buresova (Countess Almaviva), Jaroslava Horska-Maxova (Cherubino).

Cosi Fan Tutte (Mozart) - ROH 1998

Very nice Armani suits. Good singing.

Performers: Rainer Trost (Ferrando), Simon Keenlyside (Guglielmo), Thomas Allen (Don Alfonso), Barbara Fritolli (Fiordiligi), Enkelejda Shkosa (Dorabella), Inger Dam-Jensen (Despina).

La Boheme (Puccini) - ROH 1996

Hmm. ok, but I don't like Richard Leech. Leontina was much too healthy. Cynthia was good.

Performers: Richard Leech (Rodolpho), Leontina Vaduva (Mimi), Cynthia Lawrence (Musetta), Jason Howard (Marcello), Roderick Earle (Schaunard).

Carmen (Bizet) - 1995

Turandot (Puccini) - ROH 1994

Good, but oh dear, Alessandra is a big girl. Bring out the 'sweet' trolley!

Performers: Alessandra Marc (Turandot), Corneliu Murgu (Calef), Cynthia Haymon (Liu), Simon Keenlyside (Ping), Robin Leggate (Pang), Francis Egerton (Pong).

Return to Fat Lady Sing