Tag Archives: Giuseppe Verdi

Composer:  Giuseppe Verdi Text: Antonio Somma Director: Rachel Hewer Conductor: Sonia Ben-Santamaria Reviewer: Margarita Shivarova This three acts opera by Giuseppe Verdi, first performed in 1859, tells the intense story of a love triangle and the assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden in the 18thcentury. The motives of human instinct, desire, friendship, treachery, dignity and revenge are passionately revealed amidst ...

Music: Giuseppe Verdi Libretto: Antonio Ghislanzoni Director: Annabel Arden Conductor: Sir Richard Armstrong Reviewer: Sam Lowe There couldn’t have been a better venue choice for tonight’s opera than Bridgewater Hall. The sound of music and singing effortlessly swirls around the acoustics of the auditorium. Opera North’s concert staging of Aidamixes everyone around: the performers are right at the front, followed ...

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi Libretto: Antonio Ghislanzoni Conductor: Sir Richard Armstrong Director: Annabel Arden Reviewer: Ron Simpson At 227 in the Classic FM Hall of Fame is Aida, followed by (in brackets) “includes Grand March and Celeste Aida”. That sums up the problem with the opera: its general popularity rests on the first two of four acts and, also, to an ...

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi Text: Francesco Maria Piave and Andrea Maffei, after Shakespeare Conductor: Gerry Cornelius Director: James Dacre Designer: Frankie Bradshaw Reviewer: Ron Simpson English Touring Opera has, in recent years, built a formidable reputation for the quality of its productions of baroque opera, but the company’s Spring 2019 tour offers operas by Verdi, Mozart and (though not in York) ...

Music: Giuseppe Verdi Libretto: Antonio Somma  Director: David Pountney Reviewer: Barbara Michaels It would seem appropriate, give its close proximity to Valentine’s Day, for Welsh National Opera’s Spring Season to kick off with David Pountney’s new production of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, although, possibly, the assassination of mine host at said ball could hardly be termed desirable. Based loosely ...

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi  Librettist: Francesco Maria Piave Director: Matthew Richardson Conductor: Rumon Gamba Reviewer: Dominic Corr Seduction, tangled with an overbearing father all play a part in the turmoil of Rigoletto, the hunchbacked jester. The 1851 libretto opera has been revived by the Scottish Opera following Matthew Richardson’s 2011 production. Now, fully escaping its historical censorship, Rigoletto can serve to ...

Music: Giuseppe Verdi Director: Tim Albery Conductor: Richard Farnes Reviewer: Jo Beggs Having been distracted by the war, Gustavo, King of Sweden, returns home desperate to see the love of his life. Trouble is, the woman in question, Amelia, is his best friend’s wife. So begins the simple but powerful tale of a love triangle that is never going to ...

Music: Giuseppe Verdi Libretto: Antonio Somma Director: Tim Albery Reviewer: Dawn Smallwood Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball) is Opera North’s first ever staging of this opera, forming part of the Fatal Passions season this winter.  Verdi’s opera is not as well known compared to his other works such as Aida, La Traviata and Rigoletto, however, it gives the ...