Opera

Composer: George Gershwin Libretto: DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin, based on the play by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward Director: James Robinson Reviewer: Scott Matthewman There has not been much in the way of good news coming from English National Opera of late. Perhaps – just perhaps – this new production of the Gershwins’ musical crowning glory, a co-production with New ...

Composer: Béla Bartók Director: Enda Walsh Conductor:  André de Ridder Reviewer: Tricia O’Beirne Béla Bartók’s opera Bluebeard’s Castle, with Libretto by Béla Balázs, was first performed in the early twentieth century and is playfully re-imagined here in director Enda Walsh’s staging, presented by the Irish National Opera with music by the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. The opera is a duet sung ...

Composer: Rossini Director: Joan Font Revival Director: Xevi Dorca Conductor: Thomas Hanus Reviewer: Emily Pearce WNO ends its Autumn season with La Cenerentola, the retelling of the fairytale Cinderella through Rossini’s challenging and sparkling score. Thomas Hanus’ orchestra is on excellent, and lively form – Rossini’s virtuosic music is played with precision and verve. Even better, the cast are uniformly ...

Writer: Becca Marriott Director: Helena Jackson Reviewer: Karl O'Doherty There’s certainly some “reimagining” done here, but not much of it is “radical”. Musically enjoyable, the new draft of the storyline and libretto from Becca Marriott (also one of the alternating singers for Violetta) seeks to modernise the plot, bringing in contemporary references and language. Engaging and sharp in places, it, ...

Music: Franz Lehár Libretto: Victor Léon and Leo Stein Director: Giles Havergal Reviewer: Dawn Smallwood Opera North’s focus for this season is to link the theme of Before War, and After, for the centenary of the end of the First World War. The Merry Widow made its premiere in 1905, at the height of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in Vienna. Opera ...

Music: Giacomo Puccini Libretto: Giuseppe Giacoso and Luigi Illica Director: Edward Dick Reviewer: Dawn Smallwood Tosca marks the start of Opera North’s autumn season, a special time as the company will have been founded exactly 40 years ago this November.  Tosca is a popular opera that made its very first performance in Rome back in 1900, while Opera North first ...

Librettist and Director: Robin Norton-Hale after Bardari’ Orchestrator and Musical Director: Paul McKenzie Reviewer: Karl O'Doherty With a cast of just six singers and three musicians, Opera Up Close have stayed true to form and produced a muscular and engaging performance. Though it’s in concert style - music and singing with the sets, costumes and movement removed - it has ...

Composer:  Donnacha Dennehy Writer and Director:  Enda Walsh Reviewer:  Richard Maguire Premiering in Galway last summer, The Second Violinist comes to the Barbican trailing accolades in its wake, but after viewing this modern opera it is hard to justify all the praise. It’s a multi-media mess. Co-produced by Landmark and Irish National Opera it’s surprising that things are such a ...