Small palette, big picture: Acis and Galatea

By Charlotte Valori, 26 May 2016

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Reviewed at West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge on 20 May 2016

Handel, Acis and Galatea (in the original Cannons version)

Richard Egarr, Director

Rowan Pierce, Galatea

Andrew Tortise, Acis

Ashley Riches, Polyphemus

Edmund Hastings, Corydon

Gwilym Bowen, Damon

Academy of Ancient Music

Full-fat Four Seasons from Richard Egarr and the LPO

Roy Westbrook, 22nd January

Two works by African American composers accompanied this 18th century music, now globally the most famous we have, which virtually disappeared until the middle of the last century.

***11

Lively Israel in Egypt from the Scottish Chamber Orchestra

David Smythe, 1st December

Handel's chorus-heavy oratorio fielded a dream team of distinguished soloists.

****1

The Academy of Ancient Music reconnects us to a more genuine Messiah

Edward Sava-Segal, 19th December

Richard Egarr was able to put together a performance that – full of energy and dynamism – succeeded in bringing forward with great transparency, restraint and delicacy this score’s wonderful musical tapestry.

****1

Prom 55: uneven soloists in Handel's Jephtha

Stephen Pritchard, 30th August

Poor diction and lack of heft from some principals mar the composer's last great oratorio.

***11

Reservoir Dogs: EIF's Bach's series goes out with a bang

Simon Thompson, 22nd August

Ares, Butt, Egarr and Foster play brilliantly, but they're at their best when there's no orchestra.

****1

Matrimonial mayhem: Le nozze di Figaro at The Grange Festival

Dominic Lowe, 6th June

Lloyd-Evans' new production of Mozart's classic might be traditional, but there's no lack of astuteness in his direction of his characters. Problems in the pit hinder an otherwise strong musical performance.

****1

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Charlotte Valori

Charlotte Valori read Classics at Christ Church, Oxford. As a classicist, her main interest is Greek tragedy and its reception by later cultures, which has led to a continuing passion for theatre and opera. Charlotte reviews for several online magazines, and won the Bachtrack Opera Award 2015 for Best Written English Review. Follow her on Twitter @operissima.

Small palette, big picture: Handel's Acis and Galatea in Cambridge