Auckland Opera Studio's Così fan tutte makes for an ebullient and moving evening

By Simon Holden, 12 November 2012

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Reviewed at Mercury Theatre, Auckland on 11 November 2012

Mozart, Così fan tutte

Auckland Opera Studio

Patrice Wilson, Director

Auckland Chamber Orchestra

Peter Scholes, Conductor

Madeleine Pierard, Fiordiligi

Anna Pierard, Dorabella

Kawiti Waetford, Guglielmo

Thomas Atkins, Ferrando

Barbara Graham, Despina

Joel Amosa, Don Alfonso

Strong cast opens Handel's Oreste in Auckland

Simon Holden, 20th August

This performance of Oreste showcased a exceptionally strong young cast keenly in tune with Handelian style.

****1

Marlena Devoe wows as Lucia in Auckland

Simon Holden, 10th October

The audience for Lucia di Lammermoor was treated to a young, very believable cast showcasing a star in the making in the form of New Zealand-born Samoan soprano Marlena Devoe.

****1

The early flowering of opera: a fragrant L’Orfeo at Schwetzingen

Mengguang Huang, 3rd May

Markus Bothe’s Botticelli-inspired production fuses tableau vivant aesthetics with Jörg Halubek’s surgical musical precision, offering a peerless, vivid tribute to the fragrant dawn of opera.

****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 triumph of virtue: Rossini’s Cenerentola in Brisbane

Sandra Bowdler, 29th April

Margarita Gritskova leads a fine ensemble performance of Rossini’s most under-appreciated opera by Opera Queensland.

****1

Grigolo shines in a mixed new Roméo et Juliette at the Opera di Roma

Pia Maltri, 28th April

With its 1940s setting, Luca Del Fusco’s direction alienates in a new production of Gounod's Shakespeare-inspired opera.

***11

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Simon Holden

Simon is an operaphile based in Auckland, New Zealand. He wrote his dissertation on Japanese popular music. With a background in piano and classical music retail, he spends his time attending as much opera or vocal concert as he can and blogs at irishenceaway.blogspot.com.