REVIEW: Rigoletto, Opera Holland Park, London ✭✭✭✭
Tim Hochastrasser reviews Verdi’s opera Rigoletto presented by Opera Holland Park as part of their 2023 season. Until 24 June.
Verdi
Ellen Kent’s Nabucco UK Tour
Ellen Kent returns with a production of Verdi’s Nabucco, which was the very first opera that she produced. Nabucco stars Olga Perrier, the international French Soprano as Abigail, together with chorus and full orchestra. Verdi’s haunting and melodic chorus of the Hebrew slaves, Va Pensiero, follows the plight of the Hebrews as they are forced from their homeland into exile by the Babylonian King Nabucco. This powerful tale is laced with revenge, destruction and jealousy. A spectacular traditionally staged production featuring magnificent sets and costumes with amazing lighting and stage effects which include the burning down of Soloman’s temple. Nabucco promises to be an evening to remember. Sung in Italian with English surtitles. Find out more about Ellen Kent’s tours of La Boheme and Aida NABUCCO UK TOUR Wednesday 5 October 2016 Theatre Royal Brighton Friday 11 November 2016 New Alexandra Theatre Birmingham Thursday 17 November 2016 Princess Theatre Torquay … Read more
REVIEW: Falstaff, Arcola Theatre ✭✭✭✭✭
After Monty Python and Blackadder it is not really possible to present this type of opera in full cross-gartered fustian without an ironic angle; so much better in many ways, therefore, to take it out of time and re-present it in another period altogether, or in contemporary dress – as here – where in effect it becomes The Merry Chavs of Windsor. The result is one of the best vindications of the Grimeborn ethos in the current season and a wonderful refutation of the Coward quote at the head of this review.
