Bel canto meets Abu Gharaib: Bellini's Norma at Opera Holland Park

Handel's oratorio is staged by Olivia Fuchs and conducted by Johanna Soller in Opera North's latest successful collaboration with Phoenix Dance Theatre. 

Die Inszenierung überzeugt in einer Kombination von klassischer Ausstattung und moderner Focussierung auf die Psychologie der Figuren. Die musikalische Umsetzung ist exzellent. Tschaikowskis Oper wird zu einem packenden Seelendrama von Figuren, die in überkommenen Mustern verstrickt sind. 

Orla Boylan’s creation oozes charisma and reeks of entitlement, driven to emotional cruelty by the lassitude of a life too-long lived.

Olivia Fuchs' production of Rimsky-Korsakov's charming fable for ETO begins its tour in Hackney and is worth travelling to see. Catch this thoughtful production in a town near you.

Strong vocals from the three principal singers and a sure musical direction from young conductor Farrell help offset some of the less than convincing elements to Olivia Fuchs' production. 

Olivia Fuchs solves the problems of Britten's thorny opera in a brilliant new production that hits the heights, featuring Mark Le Brocq as earthbound scholar, Gustav von Aschenbach.