Deborah Warner attains her theatrical dream at the Teatro Real

By Juan José Freijo, 14 March 2026

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Reviewed at Teatro Real: Sala Principal, Madrid on 12 March 2026

Britten, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Teatro Real

Ivor Bolton, Conductor

Deborah Warner, Director

Christof Hetzer, Set Designer

Luis F Carvalho, Costume Designer

Urs Schönebaum, Lighting Designer

Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real

Coro Titular del Teatro Real

Iestyn Davies, Oberon

Liv Redpath, Tytania

Juan Leiba, Puck

Daniel Abelson, Puck

Jacquelyn Wagner, Helena

Simone McIntosh, Hermia

Sam Furness, Lysander

Jacques Imbrailo, Demetrius

Clive Bayley, Bottom

Thomas Oliemans, Theseus

Christine Rice, Hippolyta

Henry Waddington, Quince

Ru Charlesworth, Flute

John Graham-Hall, Snout

William Dazeley, Starveling

Stephen Richardson, Snug

Kim Brandstrup, Choreography

Ana González, Dirección del coro de niños

Pequeños Cantores de la ORCAM

Illuminating history-makers: Nixon in China lands in Madrid

David Karlin, 17th April

John Adams’ opera about Richard Nixon’s historic meeting with Mao Tse-Tung is performed with all round excellence, with a real find on the podium in the shape of Olivia Lee-Gunderman.

****1

The martyrs and the oppressed: Peter Grimes at Teatro Real Madrid

Juan José Freijo, 19th April

The new production of Peter Grimes stands out as the strongest item in Teatro Real's season, with magnificent staging by Deborah Warner and superb musical direction by Ivor Bolton, with outstanding vocal and dramatic performances.

*****

Reality as a staging concept: La traviata at Teatro Real, Madrid

Juan José Freijo, 22nd July

In this historic reopening, Lisette Oropesa offers a magnificent performance, dramatically overwhelming and vocally very unique.

****1

La Veronal heads Into the Little Hill in Madrid

John Marten Barnard, 15th February

The Teatros del Canal host the Benjamin–Crimp partnership’s thrillingly dark, lyric retelling of Robert Browning’s famous 1842 poem The Pied Piper of Hamelin by La Veronal dance company.

*****

A disappointing new Falstaff from Laurent Pelly at the Teatro Real

Fernando Remiro, 25th April

Comedy fails to spark in Laurent Pelly's new production of Falstaff at the Teatro Real.

**111

Je suis narcissiste premières in Madrid

Fernando Remiro, 6th March

Raquel García-Tomás's new chamber opera is a mild comedy about narcissism, brought to life by a clever production and a strong cast.

***11

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Juan José Freijo

Juan José Freijo nació en Madrid en 1970. Desde siempre apasionado por el estudio de la música, sus intereses orbitan principalmente alrededor de la ópera y el género vocal. Inició su formación y carrera profesional en el campo de las ciencias, donde completó un doctorado en física aplicada. Más adelante, amplió su formación en diferentes áreas de humanidades, incluyendo estudios en historia del arte y en la actualidad un postgrado en filosofía teórica y práctica. Juan José Freijo sigue de cerca las temporadas de las principales capitales europeas y durante los últimos años ha estado a cargo de la sección de crítica musical de ocioxocio.com.

The last night of Britten: Warner attains her theatrical dream at the Teatro Real