Tag Archives: Samuel Sakker

Alwyn’s Miss Julie rescued from the operatic desert

Alwyn: Miss Julie Oramo/ BBCSO, Barbican, 3rd october 2019 “Crazy, utterly crazy!” No, not Miss Julie’s outrageous behaviour, dancing and cavorting with the servants on Midsummer’s Eve, but that William Alwyn’s operatic take on August Strindberg’s play could have been … Continue reading

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A sunny evening in Provence: Cilea’s L’arlesiana shines at Holland Park

Cilea: L’arlesiana Opera Holland Park, 25th July 2019 The Italian verismo of Francesco Cilea’s L’arlesiana is drenched in Provençal sunshine, less earthy than the throbbing Sicilian heat of Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana, but with softer, pastoral shades. At just an hour … Continue reading

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Herheim’s lavish Vêpres siciliennes returns to Covent Garden in triumphant style

Verdi: Les Vêpres siciliennes **** The Royal Opera, 12th October 2017 A mural depicting Etna erupting is the only hint of Sicily in Stefan Herheim’s opulent staging of Les Vêpres siciliennes, returning to Covent Garden for the first time since the Verdi … Continue reading

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Ekaterina Bakanova a touchingly fragile Violetta in Covent Garden Traviata

Verdi: La traviata *** The Royal Opera, 14th June 2017 Kasper Holten was right. The affable former Director of Opera always defended yet another run of Verdi’s La traviata at Covent Garden by arguing that for every regular operagoer jaded by seeing … Continue reading

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Bright singing, grim staging: the JPYA Summer Performance at Covent Garden

Jette Parker Young Artists’ Gala *** Royal Opera House, 17th July 2016 During the course of a season, the Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Young Artists participate in many full productions, mainly in comprimario roles, developing their craft, gaining main stage experience, learning … Continue reading

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