Monthly Archives: July 2015

A Dream devoid of magic: Garsington’s RSC collaboration disappoints

Posted on July 17, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Shakespeare/Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream ** Garsington Opera, 16th July 2015 Emerging from Garsington Opera’s pavilion at the end of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, we were greeted by enchanting lanterns, illuminating our pathway across the lawns to retrieve our picnic … Continue reading →

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Period instrument Brahms to cherish from Coppola and Staier

Posted on July 14, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Brahms: Clarinet Sonatas (Harmonia mundi) Lorenzo Coppola, Andreas Staier HMC 902187 The playing of clarinettist Richard Mühlfeld inspired the mellow fruitfulness of Brahms’ late works, yielding four masterpieces. Coaxed out of retirement, Brahms composed the Clarinet Quintet, the Clarinet Trio and … Continue reading →

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Shorn of excess exoticism: Ailyn Bozok’s Lakmé at Holland Park

Posted on July 10, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Delibes: Lakmé *** Opera Holland Park, 9th July 2015 Ailyn Bozok is used to working on limited means. Her Grimeborn Werther last summer – done with a piano, a handful of singers and a few drapes – was a model of minimalism yet … Continue reading →

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A touch of Disney: Wheeldon’s glossy Cinderella sweeps into London

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Prokofiev: Cinderella *** Dutch National Ballet, Coliseum, 8th July 2015 No fairy godmother. No clock. No pumpkin. Christopher Wheeldon can be forgiven for eschewing these traditional fairy tale elements in his version of Cinderella for a moment of sheer magic at … Continue reading →

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A second helping for Carsen’s delicious Falstaff at the Royal Opera

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Mark Pullinger

Verdi: Falstaff ***** Royal Opera, 6th July 2015 If “all the world’s a jest”, as Sir John Falstaff claims at the end of Verdi’s final operatic masterpiece, then we need players – and directors – with a sense of frivolity. … Continue reading →

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