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Edward Jowle (Figaro) and Ava Dodd (Susanna) © Mihaela Bodlovic

Sir Thomas Allen’s Marriage of Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

By David Smythe, 9 May 2026

A traditional Marriage of Figaro entertains with a strong cast, eye-catching design and lighting, and Amanda Holden’s earthy libretto.

****1

****1

Glasgow

9 May 2026

Sir Thomas Allen’s Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

By David Smythe

Glasgow

Stovepipe hats are back: Scottish Opera’s steampunk Magic Flute returns

By David Smythe, 4 May 2019

Sir Thomas Allen’s crowd-pleasing Magic Flute returns to Scottish Opera in a finely sung performance with Tobias Ringborg drawing period colours from the orchestra.

****1

****1

Glasgow

4 May 2019

Scottish Opera’s steampunk Magic Flute returns

By David Smythe

Glasgow

Anthropocene: a timely chiller from Scottish Opera

By David Smythe, 26 January 2019

Climate change, challenged egos and a strange Ice woman tell a gruesome tale in Anthropocene, a finely sung new opera from Stuart MacRae, with libretto from Louise Welsh, set in the Arctic with a cinematic score.

***11

***11

Glasgow

26 Jan 2019

Anthropocene: a timely chiller from Scottish Opera

By David Smythe

Madrid

A marble and a star: a vivid Street Scene at the Teatro Real

By Fernando Remiro, 14 February 2018

Weill's neglected "American Opera" opens in Madrid with a refurbished production by John Fulljames and a strong cast led by Patricia Racette.

***11

***11

Madrid

14 Feb 2018

A vivid Street Scene at the Teatro Real

By Fernando Remiro

Alresford

Grange Festival delivers an engaging Mansfield Park by Jonathan Dove

By David Truslove, 16 September 2017

A newly-orchestrated version of Jonathan Dove’s chamber opera drew some impressive performances from Heritage Opera in this pared-down adaption of Jane Austen’s third novel.

****1

****1

Alresford

16 Sept 2017

Grange Festival delivers an engaging Mansfield Park by Jonathan Dove

By David Truslove

Cardiff

A wonderful show: Welsh National Opera's Kiss me, Kate

By Simon Rees, 29 September 2016

Welsh National Opera's co-production of Kiss me, Kate is another good argument for opera companies to stage Broadway musicals.

****1

****1

Cardiff

29 Sept 2016

A wonderful show: Welsh National Opera's Kiss me, Kate

By Simon Rees

London

Full immersion, total immolation: Götterdämmerung crowns Opera North's magnificent Ring

By Mark Pullinger, 3 July 2016

Crowning this cycle came a truly magnificent performance of Götterdämmerung, centred very much on Richard Farnes and his orchestra.

*****

*****

London

3 Jul 2016

Full immersion, total immolation

By Mark Pullinger

London

Dragonslayer: Siegfried battles valiantly in Opera North's Ring

By Mark Pullinger, 1 July 2016

While the Welsh were merrily slaying Belgians in Euro 2016, one dragon was on the receiving end at the Royal Festival Hall.

***11

***11

London

1 Jul 2016

Dragonslayer: Siegfried battles valiantly

By Mark Pullinger

Michael Druiett (Wotan), Jo Pohlheim (Alberich) and Wolfgang Ablinger-Sperrhacke (Loge) © Clive Barda

London

Dipping a toe into the Rhine: Wagner therapy from Opera North

By Mark Pullinger, 28 June 2016

Opera North's cycle offers a form of personal Wagner therapy: all four music dramas in concert performances, but with carefully choreographed video and lighting effects.

****1

****1

London

28 Jun 2016

Dipping a toe into the Rhine

By Mark Pullinger

Leeds

Opera North's Kiss Me Kate is sheer joy

By Richard Wilcocks, 3 October 2015

Opera North's Kiss Me Kate directed by Jo Davies at Leeds Grand Theatre is sheer joy.

****1

****1

Leeds

3 Oct 2015

Opera North's Kiss Me Kate is sheer joy

By Richard Wilcocks

Leeds

Opera North's glittering Midsummer Night's Dream at Leeds Grand Theatre

By Richard Wilcocks, 28 September 2013

The impressively well-drilled children’s chorus dominates this glittering production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the second component of Opera North’s Festival of Britten. 20 young performers in white, black wings on their fairy shoulders, wind solemnly in and out of the action, assemble in rows, perform versions of callisthenics exercises, and sing beautifully.

****1

****1

Leeds

28 Sept 2013

Opera North's glittering Midsummer Night's Dream at Leeds Grand Theatre

By Richard Wilcocks

Buxton

Gilbert and Sullivan's Gondoliers in Buxton

By Andrew H. King, 3 August 2012

Among the fourteen Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, it must be acknowledged that there are glimpses of weakness. The Gondoliers maintains one of Gilbert’s typically insane plots, which is best described as ‘topsy-turvy’ until the final scene, when order is restored. Likewise the music is far from Sullivan’s strongest score, but there are moments of inspired vocal writing.

***11

***11

Buxton

3 Aug 2012

Gilbert and Sullivan's Gondoliers in Buxton

By Andrew H. King

Monte-Carlo

Street Scene à Monte-Carlo : une séduisante East Side Story

By Manon Decroix, 23 February 2020

L'ouvrage lyrique méconnu de Kurt Weill bénéficie d'une distribution américaine inspirée, d'une mise en scène agréablement surprenante et d'un excellent Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo.

****1

****1

Monte-Carlo

23 Feb 2020

Street Scene à Monte-Carlo : une séduisante East Side Story

By Manon Decroix