Tag Archives: Eleanor Dennis

Hot ice and strange snow: an unseasonal return for Carsen’s bed-hopping Dream

Britten: A Midsummer Night’s Dream **** English National Opera, 1st March 2018 Heading to the Coliseum for A Midsummer Night’s Dream amid snow and ice is a disconcerting prospect – “hot ice and strange snow” indeed. Forget wild thyme blowing and substitute … Continue reading

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Billowing silk and blue hair: Phelim McDermott creates an evocative Aida for ENO

Verdi: Aida **** English National Opera, 28th September 2017 Instead of posters for English National Opera’s new staging of Aida depicting a steep shaft of light over a lone soprano, they could easily have screamed Akhnaten II: Return of the Tomb Raider. Phelim McDermott envisages … Continue reading

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A silvery Dream lost among the shadows: Britten at the Aldeburgh Festival

Britten: A Midsummer Night’s Dream **** Snape Maltings, Aldeburgh Festival, 12th June 2017 Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is an opera swathed in a sensual, yet sinister score, conjured from a tiny ensemble where Oberon’s fairy kingdom is evoked by glistening glockenspiel, … Continue reading

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An atmosphere filled with dust and testosterone: Bieito’s Carmen returns to ENO

Bizet: Carmen *** English National Opera, 20th May 2015 Calixto Bieito’s Carmen is far removed from sun-drenched, picture postcard Seville. A bull and flamenco dresses make appearances, but these are nothing but illusions: the giant Osborne sherry company bull that looms … Continue reading

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on An atmosphere filled with dust and testosterone: Bieito’s Carmen returns to ENO

ENO’s new Magic Flute mixes high-tech with simple stagecraft

Mozart: The Magic Flute **** English National Opera, 7th November 2013 For all the risk-taking in the operatic world, productions which are guaranteed bums-on-seats bankers are like Nibelung gold. To scrap not one but two such productions is a brave … Continue reading

Posted in Opera | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ENO’s new Magic Flute mixes high-tech with simple stagecraft