Powerful and assured: 4.48 Psychosis

By Ian Mikyska, 26 May 2016

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

Reviewed at Lyric Hammersmith, London on 24 May 2016

Venables, 4.48 Psychosis (World première)

The Royal Opera

Richard Baker, Conductor

Ted Huffman, Director

Hannah Clark, Set Designer

Clare Presland, Mezzo-soprano

Lucy Schaufer, Mezzo-soprano

Susanna Hurrell, Soprano

Emily Edmonds, Mezzo-soprano

Jennifer Davis, Soprano

Gweneth-Ann Rand, Soprano

CHROMA

Peter Grimes drops anchor again at The Royal Opera

Christopher Woodley, 5th May

Allan Clayton and Sir Bryn Terfel lead a strong cast in a revival of Deborah Warner's dark staging of Britten's signature work at Covent Garden.

****1

Two funerals and a bedding at the Linbury Theatre

Eleanor Knight, 1st May

Tales of love and loss as operas by Elena Langer, Charlotte Bray and Elizabeth Maconchy form a varied triple bill in this showcase for The Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Artists.

****1

The Turn of the Screw at RBO Linbury: Darkness and denial

Eleanor Knight, 26th March

Natalie Abrahami’s mesmerising new production of Britten’s ghostly tale of sexual abuse is very dark indeed.

*****

A riveting Rigoletto revival at the Royal Opera House

Dominic Lowe, 25th March

Sir Mark Elder celebrates 50 years at Covent Garden by returning to his first opera there in 1976 – Verdi's Rigoletto – in a revival of Oliver Mears' excellent 2021 production.

****1

Siegfried at the RBO: Kosky and Pappano surprise and delight

David Karlin, 17th March

A revelatory orchestral performance and a cast led by Andreas Schager, Christopher Maltman and Elisabeth Strid make this a Siegfried for the record books.

*****

Terfel’s craggy Boris Godunov returns to Covent Garden

Mark Pullinger, 29th January

The second revival of Richard Jones' staging of Mussorgsky's original 1869 version of Boris Godunov once again stars the Welsh knight.

****1

More reviews...

Ian Mikyska

Ian Mikyska is a Czechoslovak composer and musician currently working between Prague and London. His work mostly involves other media, including performance, video, and text, and he is also active as a poet and translator. www.ianmikyska.com

Powerful and assured: 4.48 Psychosis at the Lyric Hammersmith