Boston Early Music Festival strikes again with a knockout Octavia

Emőke Baráth (Octavia)

Christian Immler (Seneca) and Douglas Williams (Nero)

Michael Skarke (Tiridates) and Amanda Forsythe (Ormœna)

The BEMF Dance Company

Von Kevin Wells, 11 Juni 2025

Laden, bitte warten...

Veranstaltung anzeigen

“the steel and fiery conviction with which Emőke Baráth imbued her portrayal animated Octavia”

Rezensierte Veranstaltung: Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston, am 8 Juni 2025

Keiser, Octavia

Robert Mealy, Musikalische Leitung

Gilbert Blin, Regie

Alexander McCargar, Bühnenbild

Anna Kjellsdotter, Kostüme

Martin Kelly, Licht

BEMF Chamber Ensemble

BEMF Vocal Ensemble

Emőke Baráth, Octavia

Douglas Williams, Nero

Amanda Forsythe, Ormoena

Christian Immler, Seneca the Younger

Sherezade Panthaki, Clelia

Aaron Sheehan, Piso

Hannah De Priest, Livia

Michael Skarke, Tiridates

Richard Pittsinger, Fabius

Marc Molomot, Davus

Jason McStoots, Lepidus

Hubert Hazebroucq, Choreographie

Aufs Korn genommen: Lampes The Dragon of Wantley beim Musikfest Bremen

Jens Klier, 24th August

In der Lachmuskeln strapazierenden Inszenierung formationseigenen Gilbert Blins gelingt dem BEMF ein Opernspaß, der es absolut verdient, vermehrt sein fantastisches Unwesen treiben zu dürfen.

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BEMF stages Francesca Caccini's Alcina

Kevin Wells, 10th June

A rare chance to see the first extant opera written by a woman, Francesca Caccini's La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’ isola d’ Alcina.

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BEMF presents La serva padrona and Livietta e Tracollo

Kevin Wells, 17th June

A riotous double bill of Pergolesi at the Boston Early Music Festival.

*****

Campra capers: Le Carnaval de Venise

Kevin Wells, 11th June

With Lully’s death in 1687 and Louis XIV’s increasing immersion in religious piety under the influence of Madame de Maintenon, the court ceased to exercise a strangle hold on opera.

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Holländer an der Wiener Staatsoper: Wiedersehen macht Freude

Snapdragon, 29th April

Die Regiearbeit von Christine Mielitz überzeugt einmal mehr – jedoch würde man in den nächsten Saison gerne erleben, was musikalisch noch möglich ist.

***11

Starke Charaktere im konzertanten Siegfried unter Yannick Nézet-Séguin

Christoph Wurzel, 26th April

Klar herausgearbeitete Kontraste und ein überwältigend starker dramatischer Puls prägten diese konzertante Aufführung von Wagners Oper im Festspielhaus Baden-Baden.

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Weitere Kritiken...

Kevin Wells

Kevin Wells was bitten by the opera bug at 10, having heard a 1936 recording of Jussi Björling singing “Che gelida manina”. He has never been the same since. A student of voice, performance practice, the history of singing and opera, he holds advanced degrees in Italian and has lived and worked in Italy off and on since the 70s. La Scala became a second home as the Met had been during college daze. Now in his native Boston, he works as translator, tutor, and language coach, haunts Symphony Hall, and would haunt the Opera House had it not been demolished in 1958!