Tag Archives: Madeleine Pierard

Monsters of the mind: Idomeneo at the Buxton Festival

Mozart: Idomeneo *** Buxton Festival, 8th July 2018 When Martin Kušej staged Idomeneo at the Royal Opera back in 2014, his use of a rubber shark to represent the sea monster in Mozart’s opera seria drew a fair amount of derision. Stephen Medcalf, in his new … Continue reading

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A soufflé that fails to rise: Rossini’s Barber falls flat at Covent Garden

Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia ** Royal Opera, 13th September 2016 As a renowned gastronome, Gioachino Rossini could have shown Mary Berry a thing or two in the Great British Bake-Off tent. He had several dishes named in his honour, … Continue reading

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Wheel of Fortune: Carmina burana a safe bet for Birmingham Royal Ballet

Tchaikovsky: Serenade/ Orff: Carmina burana  *** Birmingham Royal Ballet, Coliseum, 20th March 2015 Celebrating 20 years as Director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, David Bintley brings his company to London for three nights (and an afternoon!) of seedy sex and drunken debauchery … Continue reading

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Eyes wide open: a shocker of a Rusalka at the Royal Opera

Dvořák: Rusalka  ** The Royal Opera, 27th February 2012 Rusalka is simply too good an opera to have waited until 2012 for its first staging by The Royal Opera. Dvořák’s fairy tale about the water nymph who falls in love … Continue reading

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