Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | The Theatre in the Woods

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Love in Khanate: Taj Mahal by Nishat Khan premieres at Grange Park Opera

By David Karlin, 10 July 2025

Scion of generations of sitar players, Nishat Khan is the perfect person to tell the "greatest love story never told" behind India's most iconic building.

***11

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***11

West Horsley

10 Jul 2025

Taj Mahal by Nishat Khan premieres at Grange Park Opera

By David Karlin

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West Horsley

Ukraine matters: Tchaikovsky’s Mazeppa at Grange Park Opera

By Roy Westbrook, 14 June 2025

Why is Tchaikovsky’s very fine opera still a rarity outside Russia? David Pountney directs a new production at the Surrey festival.

****1

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West Horsley

14 Jun 2025

Ukraine matters: Tchaikovsky’s Mazeppa at Grange Park Opera

By Roy Westbrook

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West Horsley

Pountney’s vivid Simon Boccanegra finds a welcome new home at the Theatre in the Woods

By Mark Pullinger, 05 June 2025

Sir David Pountney's 1997 staging for Welsh National Opera is given a welcome new lease of life at Grange Park Opera, splendidly cast... with one major exception.

****1

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West Horsley

05 Jun 2025

Pountney’s vivid Simon Boccanegra at Grange Park Opera

By Mark Pullinger

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West Horsley

Impressive visuals and performances lift a confusing operatic take on The Tempest

By Nick Boston, 11 July 2024

Strong vocal and orchestral performances, supported by impressive visuals, struggle to bring coherency to Anthony Bolton's Island of Dreams at Grange Park Opera.

***11

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***11

West Horsley

11 Jul 2024

A confusing operatic take on The Tempest at Grange Park Opera

By Nick Boston

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West Horsley

Alden and Barlow impress in a minimalist Kátya Kabanová at Grange Park Opera

By David Karlin, 27 June 2024

A memorable performance, with Stephen Barlow conducting Janáček’s remarkable score with vividness and clarity, while David Alden's staging is a masterpiece of "less is more".

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West Horsley

27 Jun 2024

An impressive, minimalist Kátya Kabanová at Grange Park Opera

By David Karlin

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West Horsley

Aleko on the Arno: Sir Bryn Terfel leads fine new double bill at Grange Park Opera

By Roy Westbrook, 06 June 2024

An unlikely pairing opens Grange Park Opera's season, the two works united by the dominant central character of each opera – Sir Bryn Terfel.

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West Horsley

06 Jun 2024

Aleko on the Arno: Bryn Terfel leads fine new GPO double bill

By Roy Westbrook

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West Horsley

Werther in the woods: an intense new production at Grange Park Opera

By David Truslove, 17 June 2023

John Doyle's emotional staging of Werther gets to the heart of Massenet's engagement with Goethe in memorable performances.

****1

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West Horsley

17 Jun 2023

Werther in the woods: an intense new production at Grange Park Opera

By David Truslove

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West Horsley

Over the top: revamped Tosca returns to the Theatre in the Woods

By Mark Pullinger, 10 June 2023

Stephen Medcalf gingers up Grange Park Opera’s staging with some deft directorial touches… even if Tosca is denied her final leap.

***11

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***11

West Horsley

10 Jun 2023

Over the top: revamped Tosca returns to the Theatre in the Woods

By Mark Pullinger

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West Horsley

Death-devoted duo: a superb new Tristan und Isolde at Grange Park Opera

By Roy Westbrook, 08 June 2023

Charles Edwards' ambitious production is well served by a strong cast as Grange Park Opera opens its season in the Theatre in the Woods.

****1

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West Horsley

08 Jun 2023

Death-devoted duo: a superb Tristan und Isolde at Grange Park Opera

By Roy Westbrook

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West Horsley

Taking the Pils: Grange Park Opera proves that rare Janáček is no small beer

By Matthew Rye, 26 June 2022

Janáček’s satirical opera The Excursions of Mr Brouček may not be among his greatest dramatic works, yet it earns its place in the limelight for its musical, visual and dramatic wit at Grange Park Opera.

****1

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West Horsley

26 Jun 2022

Taking the Pils: Pountney proves that rare Janáček is no small beer

By Matthew Rye

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West Horsley

David Alden's brilliant barrack room ballad: Otello at Grange Park Opera

By Roy Westbrook, 19 June 2022

Gwyn Hughes Jones, Elizabeth Llewellyn and Sir Simon Keenlyside star in David Alden's setting of Otello in a militarised Cyprus.

****1

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West Horsley

19 Jun 2022

A brilliant barrack room ballad: Otello at Grange Park Opera

By Roy Westbrook

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West Horsley

Into the lion's mouth: Ponchielli's La Gioconda at Grange Park Opera

By Mark Pullinger, 11 June 2022

No hippos in tutus for The Dance of the Hours, but panto frolics abound in Stephen Madcalf's staging in the idyllic Theatre in the Woods.

***11

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***11

West Horsley

11 Jun 2022

Into the lion's mouth: Ponchielli's La Gioconda at Grange Park Opera

By Mark Pullinger

West Horsley

Alexander Litvinenko at Grange Park Opera: a thrilling – if imperfect – world premiere

By David Karlin, 15 July 2021

Ivor Bolton and Kit Hesketh-Harvey deliver a brilliant political thriller and anti-Putin polemic – at least for its first half.

****1

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West Horsley

15 Jul 2021

Alexander Litvinenko: a thrilling – if imperfect – world premiere

By David Karlin

West Horsley

Ivan not quite so Terrible: a Rimsky-Korsakov double bill at Grange Park Opera

By Mark Pullinger, 19 June 2021

First marketed as Ivan the Terrible by Serge Diaghilev, Rimsky-Korsakov's first opera The Maid of Pskov makes a rare appearance outside of Russia, in leafy Surrey.

***11

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West Horsley

19 Jun 2021

Ivan not quite so Terrible at Grange Park Opera

By Mark Pullinger

West Horsley

Consumption or Covid? La bohème at Grange Park Opera

By Dominic Lowe, 12 June 2021

Grange Park Opera's revival of its 2015 production of Puccini's La bohème hits some high notes with a very contemporary feel and some excellent singing from its leading ladies.

***11

***11

West Horsley

12 Jun 2021

Consumption or Covid? La bohème at Grange Park Opera

By Dominic Lowe

West Horsley

Britten's cinderella opera? A new Owen Wingrave from Grange Park Opera

By Mark Valencia, 09 December 2020

Conceived for television and first seen on BBC2 in May 1971, Owen Wingrave should lend itself to creative staging and the small screen. Does this new film convince?

****1

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West Horsley

09 Dec 2020

Britten's cinderella opera? Owen Wingrave from Grange Park Opera

By Mark Valencia

West Horsley

Into the Woods: Hansel and Gretel at Grange Park Opera

By Benjamin Poore, 23 June 2019

Darkness sits alongside comedy in a new production of Humperdinck's delicious children's opera.

***11

***11

West Horsley

23 Jun 2019

Into the Woods: Hansel and Gretel at Grange Park Opera

By Benjamin Poore

West Horsley

Polished Porgy: Gershwin triumphs in Surrey

By Matthew Rye, 08 June 2019

Grange Park Opera’s new production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess makes for a searingly effective evening of music and drama.

****1

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West Horsley

08 Jun 2019

Polished Porgy: Gershwin triumphs in Surrey

By Matthew Rye

West Horsley

Don Carlo at Grange Park Opera: gripping historical drama, powerfully sung

By David Karlin, 06 June 2019

Verdi's most political of operas brilliantly highlights the juxtaposition of personal desires and political imperatives

****1

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West Horsley

06 Jun 2019

Don Carlo at Grange Park Opera: gripping and powerfully sung

By David Karlin

West Horsley

Romantic love blooms in the lost garden of West Horsley

By John Johnston, 26 June 2018

Olena Tokar's assured coloratura made an immediate success of the waltz with her convincingly adolescent appearance, rhythmic verve and stylish phrasing.

***11

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West Horsley

26 Jun 2018

Romantic love blooms in the lost garden of West Horsley

By John Johnston

West Horsley

Country-house Ball: Verdi at Grange Park Opera

By Matthew Rye, 09 June 2018

Grange Park Opera’s enjoyable new production of Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera looks a little homespun on stage, but has plenty of musical compensations.

***11

***11

West Horsley

09 Jun 2018

Country-house Ball: Verdi at Grange Park Opera

By Matthew Rye

West Horsley

Museum piece? Stephen Medcalf offers an intriguing Walküre at Grange Park Opera

By Richard Ely, 29 June 2017

Trophy room glass display cases and glassy-eyed stuffed animals are the setting for a distinctive take on Wagner's epic music drama.

****1

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West Horsley

29 Jun 2017

Museum piece? Walküre at Grange Park Opera

By Richard Ely

West Horsley

Natalya Romaniw leads an emotionally gripping Jenůfa for Grange Park Opera

By Dominic Lowe, 11 June 2017

Grange Park Opera scored a direct hit with a fine production of Janáček's masterpiece, led by a superb performances from Natalya Romaniw and Susan Bullock as Jenůfa and the Kostelnička.

****1

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West Horsley

11 Jun 2017

An emotionally gripping Jenůfa for Grange Park Opera

By Dominic Lowe

West Horsley

Grange Park Opera's inaugural Tosca

By David Karlin, 08 June 2017

Woefully stiff acting lets down an otherwise excellent production; Joseph Calleja impresses in his role début as Cavaradossi.

***11

***11

West Horsley

08 Jun 2017

Grange Park Opera's inaugural Tosca

By David Karlin