Donizetti: Il furioso all’isola di San Domingo ***
English Touring Opera, Hackney Empire, 12th March 2015
It’s a rare bel canto opera indeed where the central character in the grip of madness isn’t a soprano, but a baritone! Donizetti’s Il furioso all’isola di San Domingo – or The Wild Man of the West Indies as English Touring Opera has it – hasn’t strayed onto these shores for decades. The curious plot doesn’t bear scrutiny too closely with 21st century eyes, but musically it’s rather a fine opera and was given an admirable performance at the start of its UK tour.
Peter Brathwaite (Kaidamà) and Craig Smith (Cardenio)
© Richard Hubert Smith
Read the full review on Bachtrack.