Tag Archives: Barrie Kosky

A long road to nowhere for Igor at the Bastille

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Mark Pullinger

Borodin: Prince Igor Opéra national de Paris, Bastille, 1st December 2019 Gone are the days when Borodin’s Prince Igor was presented as dry historical pageant, dusty stagings of static tableaux. Directors now prefer to tap into the psychology of the … Continue reading →

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Political power games in Kosky’s Agrippina at Covent Garden

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Mark Pullinger

Handel: Agrippina Royal Opera, 23rd September 2019 We were promised Agrippina as House of Cards, full of intrigue and political machinations, yet Barrie Kosky plays his joker frequently in a staging which borders on farce. On an austere set, he … Continue reading →

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Carmen minus charisma: a limp revival of Kosky’s production at Covent Garden

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Mark Pullinger

Bizet: Carmen Royal Opera, 24th June 2019 Barrie Kosky’s Carmen is back, so grab the pedometer. “Who needs cardio classes?” tweeted the Royal Opera Chorus wryly after Saturday’s matinee. Kosky strips almost all sense of Spain from the setting and … Continue reading →

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Swans, severed heads and a deerstalker: 2018 in review

Posted on December 30, 2018 by Mark Pullinger

“Wow! That’s some year you’ve had!” was a message written in one of this year’s Christmas cards. “Aiming to top it in 2019?” I’m not sure I have the energy! My outstanding operatic experience of the year was easily Salome at … Continue reading →

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A rebellious Carmen: Kosky’s vaudeville flawed but entertaining

Posted on March 9, 2018 by Mark Pullinger

Carmen Royal Opera House, 6th & 8th March 2018 If Carmen contends that love is a rebellious bird, then Barrie Kosky is a rebellious director. He can take rarities such as Saul or The Nose and give it the full … Continue reading →

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