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John Copley directs a peach of an Albert Herring for Grange Festival

By Mark Pullinger, 26 June 2017
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“Copley presents the work with the straightest of bats, observing every detail of the libretto”
Reviewed at The Grange, Alresford on 25 June 2017
Programme
Britten, Albert Herring
Performers
The Grange Festival
Steuart Bedford, Conductor
John Copley, Director
Tim Reed, Set Designer
Prue Handley, Costume Designer
Orla Boylan, Lady Billows
Clarissa Meek, Florence Pike
Anna Gillingham, Miss Wordsworth
Kathleen Wilkinson, Mrs. Herring
Richard Pinkstone, Albert Herring
Kitty Whately, Nancy
Adrian Thompson, Mr Upfold
Timothy Nelson, Sid
Alexander Robin-Baker, Mr Gedge
Andri Björn Róbertsson, Superintendent Budd
Catriona Hewitson, Cis
Emily Vine, Emmie
Jack Stone, Harry
Aurora Orchestra
Kevin Treacy, Lighting Designer
More Opera reviews
Die Fledermaus at The Grange: Cabaret meets G&S
David Karlin, 20th June
A fine singing cast gives creditable performances in Johann Stauss II's most famous operetta, but Paul Curran's updating of Act 2 to 1930s Berlin takes the fizz out of the Champagne.
***11
The Rake's Progress at The Grange: richly entertaining
David Karlin, 23rd June
Singing performances are excellent, the staging is well crafted and Stravinsky's eclectic score entertains from start to finish. But it's an evening's opera that doesn't touch the soul.
****1
L’incoronazione di Poppea vividly brought to life at the Grange
David Truslove, 7th June
Terrific music making with a light directorial touch brings mixed results to Monteverdi's 1643 masterpiece. 
***11
Obsession at The Grange: The Queen of Spades
David Karlin, 23rd June
In a setting that might be The Grange itself, a production which steadily tightens its grip until a blistering finish.
*****
A stylish Così fan tutte at The Grange Festival
David Truslove, 16th June

Entertainment ideal for country house opera-goers, enhanced by some fine singing and excellent playing from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

****1
Tension accumulates in Handel’s Tamerlano at The Grange Festival
David Truslove, 10th June
Some exceptional singing intermittently enlivens Daniel Slater's production which, dramatically and emotionally, takes time to ignite.   
***11
More reviews...
Read reviews of
Adrian ThompsonAlbert HerringAlexander Robin-BakerAndri Björn RóbertssonAnna GillinghamAurora OrchestraBenjamin BrittenCatriona HewitsonClarissa MeekEmily VineJohn CopleyKathleen WilkinsonKevin TreacyKitty WhatelyOrla BoylanPrue HandleyRichard PinkstoneSteuart BedfordThe Grange FestivalTim ReedTimothy Nelson
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Mark Pullinger
Mark Pullinger
Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.