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Into the labyrinth: opera and community in The Monster in the Maze

By Simon Holden, 19 September 2025

Director Anapela Polata’ivao handles her mixed forces of amateurs and professionals with seamless assurance, the crowds’ movements across the stage showing both clarity and intent.

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Auckland

19 Sep 2025

Into the labyrinth: opera and community in The Monster in the Maze

By Simon Holden

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London

Jonathan Dove’s Itch at Opera Holland Park: the fascination of the elements

By David Karlin, 03 June 2025

Simon Mayo’s Young Adult novels are turned into an operatic romp which explores the fascination of the elements with excellent music and setting, albeit riddled with plot lacunae.

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London

03 Jun 2025

Jonathan Dove’s Itch at Opera Holland Park

By David Karlin

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Adelaide

Jonathan Dove’s excellent opera Flight touches down in Australia

By Sandra Bowdler, 08 May 2025

Jonathan Dove’s opera Flight earns its title as the most popular modern opera with this excellent ensemble performance in Adelaide, its Australian premiere.

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Adelaide

08 May 2025

Jonathan Dove’s excellent opera Flight touches down in Australia

By Sandra Bowdler

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Edinburgh

Hands up for Uprising, Jonathan Dove’s vivid new community opera

By David Smythe, 28 March 2025

The RSNO adult and youth choruses head a vibrant community of singers in Jonathan Dove’s energetic and moving protest drama.

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Edinburgh

28 Mar 2025

Hands up for Uprising, Jonathan Dove’s vivid new community opera

By David Smythe

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Auckland

Blissful Mansfield Park in Auckland

By Simon Holden, 21 April 2024

Dove’s masterful adaptation, combined with an ebullient and characterful rendition by New Zealand Opera, make for a very effective and at times, very moving, afternoon at the opera.

*****

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*****

Auckland

21 Apr 2024

Blissful Mansfield Park in Auckland

By Simon Holden

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Glasgow

Marx in London! Dove’s comedy impresses at Scottish Opera

By David Smythe, 13 February 2024

Marx in London! receives its UK premiere in Glasgow, with David Parry conducting the colourful score, and Stephen Barlow directing.

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Glasgow

13 Feb 2024

Marx in London! Dove’s comedy impresses at Scottish Opera

By David Smythe

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Bristol

A migrant's tale: Jonathan Dove and Alasdair Middleton's Odyssey wins hearts in Bristol

By David Karlin, 28 January 2024

The refurbished Beacon stages a world premiere of a large choral work which imbues complete empathy for one migrant and his story.

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*****

Bristol

28 Jan 2024

Dove and Middleton's Odyssey wins hearts in Bristol

By David Karlin

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London

Stunning Winter Tales from Voces8 at Wigmore Hall

By David Truslove, 14 December 2023

Once again Voces8 entertain a packed audience with an eclectic programme sung with thrilling precision and excellent presentation.

*****

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*****

London

14 Dec 2023

Stunning Winter Tales from Voces8 at Wigmore Hall

By David Truslove

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London

Dove's Mansfield Park positively fizzes with Waterperry Opera in Marylebone

By Nick Boston, 08 July 2023

A uniformly strong cast and pianists effortlessly combine comedy and emotion in Dove's Mansfield Park from Waterperry Opera.

*****

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*****

London

08 Jul 2023

Dove's Mansfield Park positively fizzes in Marylebone

By Nick Boston

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Northampton

BRB2 in Carlos Acosta's Classical Selection is full of vitality

By Graham Watts, 25 April 2023

With five founding dancers in BRB2, this inaugural dance salad was embellished with other ingredients including the addition of seven members from the main company.

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Northampton

25 Apr 2023

BRB2 in Carlos Acosta's Classical Selection is full of vitality

By Graham Watts

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Glasgow

Two years delayed, Flight takes off from RCS in Glasgow

By David Smythe, 12 March 2022

The RCS performs Jonathan Dove’s Flight with his specially commissioned reduced orchestration, with very fine ensemble singing.

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Glasgow

12 Mar 2022

Two years delayed, Flight takes off from RCS in Glasgow

By David Smythe

London

A showcase for Ukrainian ballet at Sadler's Wells

By Graham Watts, 07 September 2021

Ivan Putrov, who has enjoyed a long career based in London, brings dancers from his homeland for a special London gala.

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London

07 Sep 2021

A showcase for Ukrainian ballet at Sadler's Wells

By Graham Watts

Seattle

Flight in the land of Boeing: Seattle Opera delivers Dove with panache

By David Karlin, 03 April 2021

Seattle Opera do full justice to Dove and De Angelis's comic opera with a dark twist, filming it in the city's Museum of Flight.

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Seattle

03 Apr 2021

Seattle Opera delivers Dove's Flight with panache

By David Karlin

Oxford

Ariel takes flight and a vicar gets the builders in at Waterperry Opera Festival

By Roy Westbrook, 13 August 2020

With a cast of six and orchestra of seven, Waterperry Opera treats us to a new chamber opera, and one with music by Mozart.

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Oxford

13 Aug 2020

Ariel takes flight at Waterperry Opera Festival

By Roy Westbrook

Atlanta

Quirky Rachmaninov from Buniatishvili with the Royal Philharmonic in Atlanta

By William E Ford, 15 January 2020

A most idiosyncratic version of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto from Khatia Buniatishvili along with a notable performance of Sibelius' Second Symphony from the RPO, touring the United States under Mark Wigglesworth.

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Atlanta

15 Jan 2020

Quirky Rachmaninov from Buniatishvili and the RPO in Atlanta

By William E Ford

London

Prom 43: The very new and the once new as Oramo and the BBC SO redefine tradition

By Alexander Hall, 19 August 2019

What to put with Beethoven's greatest statement on the universality of the human spirit? The BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Sakari Oramo, Neil Ferris and Andreas Haefliger make a case for renewal.

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London

19 Aug 2019

Prom 43: Oramo and the BBC SO redefine tradition

By Alexander Hall

London

Energy and virtuosity from VOCES8 in an impressive Proms debut

By Nick Boston, 22 July 2019

VOCES8 perform choral music spanning 800 years, including a BBC commission from Alexia Sloane, with great energy, articulation and virtuosity in an impressive Proms debut at Cadogan Hall.

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London

22 Jul 2019

Energy and virtuosity from VOCES8 in an impressive Proms debut

By Nick Boston

London

The BBC Concert Orchestra go orange with Anna-Maria Helsing

By Chris Garlick, 06 June 2019

Finding orange everywhere: a concept concert from the BBC Concert Orchestra with Anna-Maria Helsing and Victor Sangiorgio.

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London

06 Jun 2019

The BBC Concert Orchestra go orange with Anna-Maria Helsing

By Chris Garlick

Bonn

Marx in London: A madcap comedy and musically rich opera at Theater Bonn

By Cristina Burack, 20 January 2019

Jonathan Dove's new opera is a comedic romp with clever lyrics set to wonderful contrasting music, though a more nuanced actor as Karl Marx could have better brought out the philosopher's amusing contradictions.

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Bonn

20 Jan 2019

Marx in London: Madcap comedy at Theater Bonn

By Cristina Burack

Oxford

Austen-tastic opera: Mansfield Park, Waterperry Opera Festival

By Charlotte Valori, 18 August 2018

Jonathan Dove's witty Jane Austen chamber opera received a standing ovation from an ecstatic audience: quite the opening salvo for a brand new summer opera festival.

*****

*****

Oxford

18 Aug 2018

Austen-tastic opera: Mansfield Park, Waterperry Opera Festival

By Charlotte Valori

Blandford Forum

Guardian Angel: Rachel Podger and VOCES8

By Jane Shuttleworth, 03 August 2018

Angels abound as Rachel Podger joins with VOCES8 for a collaborative exploration built around music from her Guardian Angel album.

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Blandford Forum

03 Aug 2018

Guardian Angel: Rachel Podger and VOCES8

By Jane Shuttleworth

London

Dove's Flight takes off superbly to launch Royal Academy's new theatre

By Mark Pullinger, 12 March 2018

Dove's infectious score nods to Copland, Bernstein and Britten and its tongue-twisting ensembles and high-wire vocal writing were wonderfully performed.

*****

*****

London

12 Mar 2018

Dove's Flight takes off superbly

By Mark Pullinger

Glasgow

Dove’s The Day After: Apocalyptic raw energy and verve at RCS

By David Smythe, 07 March 2018

RCS forces tackle Jonathan Dove’s The Day After, Ovid’s tale of Phaeton’s disastrous chariot ride, pulling the sun across the sky with infectious raw energy and verve.

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Glasgow

07 Mar 2018

Apocalyptic raw energy and verve at RCS

By David Smythe

Glasgow

Dove’s Flight: Witty and poignant tale of airport life at Scottish Opera

By David Smythe, 24 February 2018

Jonathan Dove’s witty Flight at Scottish Opera is finely sung by a tight ensemble with standout performances from Jennifer France and James Laing.

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Glasgow

24 Feb 2018

Witty and poignant tale of airport life at Scottish Opera

By David Smythe

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.

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Alresford

16 Sep 2017

Grange Festival delivers an engaging Mansfield Park by Jonathan Dove

By David Truslove

London

Prom 75: Partygoers, pomp and Paddington Bear

By Rohan Shotton, 10 September 2016

The 2016 Proms come to a riotous close at the Royal Albert Hall.

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London

10 Sep 2016

Partygoers, pomp and Paddington Bear

By Rohan Shotton

Pembridge

Choir of Royal Holloway stir the emotions at the Presteigne Festival

By David Truslove, 29 August 2015

Love and Passion provide a vibrant theme for an enterprising choral concert given by the Choir of Royal Holloway.

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Pembridge

29 Aug 2015

Choir of Royal Holloway stir the emotions

By David Truslove

Utrecht

Holland Opera’s The Day After: Epic and intimate theatre at magical Fort Rijnauwen

By Jenny Camilleri, 26 June 2015

Jonathan Dove’s new opera about the foolhardy destruction of nature receives an open-air world première with fiery special effects against an evocative historical backdrop.

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Utrecht

26 Jun 2015

Epic and intimate theatre at magical Fort Rijnauwen

By Jenny Camilleri

Bristol

Rutter conducts Rutter: Colston Hall's Summer Gala Concert

By Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres, 20 June 2015

This was, by no doubt, the largest ensemble on stage at Colston Hall this season with five choirs and an orchestra that took over the stage.

***11

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Bristol

20 Jun 2015

Rutter conducts Rutter: Colston Hall's Summer Gala Concert

By Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres

London

Taking wing: Dove’s Flight a soaring success for Opera Holland Park

By Mark Pullinger, 10 June 2015

Flight represents a brave new departure for Opera Holland Park, the first contemporary opera to take to its main stage, in a striking staging with top quality musical performances.

*****

*****

London

10 Jun 2015

Taking wing: Dove’s Flight a soaring success

By Mark Pullinger

London

Tales from the Finnish woods: Jonathan Dove's Swanhunter by Opera North

By David Karlin, 04 April 2015

Swanhunter is a fine retelling of a wonderful yarn, and this rendering of it contains a great deal to enjoy for an audience of all ages, albeit marred by inconsistent intelligibity.

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London

04 Apr 2015

Dove's Swanhunter by Opera North

By David Karlin

London

Soaring straight into our hearts: The Little Green Swallow at British Youth Opera

By Charlotte Valori, 08 September 2014

Jonathan Dove's joyous old-fashioned fairytale, magically realised in a very stylish production including some wonderfully original puppetry, is a fabulous talent showcase from British Youth Opera - and fun for all the family.

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London

08 Sep 2014

Soaring straight into our hearts

By Charlotte Valori

London

Pastoral mysticism as Gaia Theory takes centre stage at the Proms

By Penny Homer, 28 July 2014

Ravel and Dove complement each other, but Mozart sits oddly out of place in the BBC Symphony Orchestra's latest Prom.

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London

28 Jul 2014

Pastoral mysticism at the Proms

By Penny Homer

London

Not a wooden performance in sight: The Adventures of Pinocchio

By Penny Homer, 04 March 2014

The future of opera is in good hands, if Tuesday night’s opening of Jonathan Dove's The Adventures of Pinocchio at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama is any indication.

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London

04 Mar 2014

Not a wooden performance in sight: The Adventures of Pinocchio

By Penny Homer

London

Nonsuch Singers evoke stars and light at St James's Church, Piccadilly

By Jonathan Russell, 19 October 2013

On Saturday at St James’s Church, the Nonsuch Singers presented a captivating programme titled “To the Field of Stars”. It was a compelling mix of recent and old music, predominantly works by living composers and composers from the 16th century. It culminated in the première of Gabriel Jackson’s newly commissioned work To the Field of Stars.

****1

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London

19 Oct 2013

Nonsuch Singers evoke stars and light at St James's Church, Piccadilly

By Jonathan Russell

London

Modern music in London from Oakham School Chamber Choir

By Billie Hylton, 17 January 2013

This was my second visit to the Brandenburg Choral Festival, and I was looking forward to seeing younger performers tackle some challenging music. The experience outlined in the programme that Oakham School Chamber Choir have had is impressive, with the school giving over 80 concerts a year and touring recently to Dublin and Paris.

***11

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London

17 Jan 2013

Modern music in London from Oakham School Chamber Choir

By Billie Hylton

London

Jonathan Dove's Tobias and the Angel: Highbury Opera Theatre's official debut

By Billie Hylton, 03 October 2012

From the book of Tobit, Tobias and the Angel is a story from the Apocrypha which is not usually printed in Bibles anymore, due to concerns about its authenticity. However it is an inspirational story which lends itself well to music, and Jonathan Dove’s adaptation is definitely very captivating.The story sees young Tobit of Nineveh and Sara of Ecbatana both praying for their suffering to end.

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London

03 Oct 2012

Jonathan Dove's Tobias and the Angel: Highbury Opera Theatre's official debut

By Billie Hylton

London

Mansfield Park at Royal Academy Opera

By David Karlin, 18 May 2012

Turning great novels into opera isn't a new idea - consider Prokofiev's War and Peace or Massenet's Werther - but it can be a tricky business: opera thrives on pace and high drama, while the greatest novels have time and space for reflection and character development.

****1

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London

18 May 2012

Mansfield Park at Royal Academy Opera

By David Karlin

Leeds

Heritage Opera present Jonathan Dove's new opera, Mansfield Park

By Laura Kate Wilson, 06 August 2011

It's extremely rare to see a small opera company commission a brand new work, but that's exactly what Heritage Opera, who regularly present chamber operas in the north-west of England, have done.

Leeds

06 Aug 2011

Heritage Opera present Jonathan Dove's new opera, Mansfield Park

By Laura Kate Wilson

London

Russian Ballet Icons Gala; 100-Year Anniversary of Galina Ulanova

By Margaret Willis, 15 May 2011

The Russian ballerina Galina Ulanova is a true legend in the world of classical ballet. Her dramatic interpretations plumbed deep into the human soul and revealed its full gamut of emotion and poetic beauty.

London

15 May 2011

Russian Ballet Icons Gala; 100-Year Anniversary of Galina Ulanova

By Margaret Willis

London

Edle Dissonanzen im Advent: VOCES8 beim Chor-Festival Live from London

By Michael Vieth, 01 December 2020

VOCES8 und Rachel Podger eröffneten mit Engelsmusik in London eine Folge festlicher Auftritte internationaler Vokalensembles.

****1

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London

01 Dec 2020

Edle Dissonanzen im Advent: VOCES8 beim Chor-Festival Live from London

By Michael Vieth

Zurich

Virtuoser Originalklang im Zürcher Opernhaus: La Scintilla dei Fiati

By Rolf Kyburz, 02 October 2017

Bei Mozart zeigten sich die Qualitäten des Ensembles: eine ausgezeichnete Darbietung, virtuos, oftmals dramatisch und spannungsreich, zumal im Hauptthema des Eingangssatzes.

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Zurich

02 Oct 2017

Virtuoser Originalklang in Zürich: La Scintilla dei Fiati

By Rolf Kyburz

London

Le formidable nouvel opéra de Jonathan Dove : Le Monstre du Labyrinthe

By Julie Jozwiak, 05 July 2015

Dimanche 5 juillet au Barbican, le London Symphony Orchestra rejoint par des élèves de la Guildhall School et de nombreux choristes amateurs présentait "The Monster in the Maze" de Jonathan Dove, un opéra très enthousiasmant dirigé par Sir Simon Rattle, suivi par une symphonie de Walton elle aussi exaltante.

*****

*****

London

05 Jul 2015

Le Monstre du Labyrinthe

By Julie Jozwiak