Ariadne aus Glasgow: a few twists at Opera Holland Park

By Matthew Rye, 18 July 2018

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“Jennifer France... is surely the Zerbinetta of our dreams”

Reviewed at Holland Park Theatre, London on 17 July 2018

Strauss R., Ariadne auf Naxos

Opera Holland Park

Brad Cohen, Conductor

Antony McDonald, Director, Set Designer

Mardi Byers, The Primadonna (Ariadne)

Kor-Jan Dusseljee, The Tenor (Bacchus)

Jennifer France, Zerbinetta

Julia Sporsén, Composer

Lucy Hall, Echo

Elizabeth Cragg, Naiad

Laura Zigmintaitė, Dryad

Daniel Norman, Scaramuccio

Alex Otterburn, Harlequin

John Molloy, Truffaldino

Elgan Llŷr Thomas, Brighella

Eleanor Bron, The Major-Domo

Stephen Gadd, Music Master

Jamie MacDougall, Dancing Master

Thomas Humphreys, Wigmaker

Trevor Bowes, Lackey

Oliver Brignall, Officer

City of London Sinfonia

Born to sing Lucia: Jennifer France shines at Opera Holland Park

Mark Valencia, 18th July

Cecilia Stinton’s new production of Lucia di Lammermoor doesn't necessarily make best use of OHP’s performance space, but the singers excel.

***11

A mafioso Merry Widow at Opera Holland Park

Dominic Lowe, 19th June

Despite some excellent music-making, John Savournin's production is hindered by a laboured New York relocation.

**111

Jonathan Dove’s Itch at Opera Holland Park

David Karlin, 3rd June

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.

****1

Doomed Dutchman wants a wife: Wagner makes Opera Holland Park debut

Eleanor Knight, 27th May

Amid the rough winds of late May, Julia Burbach directs Opera Holland Park's first venture into Wagner – The Flying Dutchman.

***11

Trapped in a vice: Il segreto di Susanna and Pagliacci at OHP

Dominic Lowe, 17th July

Joining OHP's 2019 production of Wolf-Ferrari's charming domestic comedy, a blazing new production of Pagliacci delivers everything that one could want from Leoncavallo's infamous opera.

*****

Puccini's Edgar makes a rare appearance at Opera Holland Park

Dominic Lowe, 2nd July

Is Puccini's second opera unloved and unlovable? Opera Holland Park makes a commendable attempt to revive Edgar, but struggles to overcome its many flaws.

***11

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Matthew Rye

Matthew read music at Oxford and worked in music journalism for 30 years as a writer, critic and editor. He wrote numerous programme and CD booklet notes, spent 13 years as a Daily Telegraph critic, worked at BBC Music Magazine and was reviews editor of The Strad. He also wrote for The Wagner Journal and Opera and blogged at ferneklang.blogspot.co.uk. He was general editor of 1001 Classical Recordings You Must Hear Before You Die (Cassell Illustrated, 2007) and was the author of a new series of eBooks, Masterpieces of Music (Erudition).

Ariadne aus Glasgow: Strauss’ opera gets a few twists at Opera Holland Park