Un ballo in maschera showcases Opera Holland Park at its best

By Mark Valencia, 10 June 2019

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“The mocking chorus that closes Act 2 dripped with vigour and virulence”

Reviewed at Holland Park Theatre, London on 8 June 2019

Verdi, Un ballo in maschera

Opera Holland Park

Matthew Kofi Waldren, Conductor

Rodula Gaitanou, Director

Matteo Lippi, Gustavo, King of Sweden

Anne-Sophie Duprels, Amelia

George von Bergen, Count Anckarström

Rosalind Plowright, Madame Arvidson

Alison Langer, Oscar

John Savournin, Count Horn

Benjamin Bevan, Count Ribbing

Ross Ramgobin, Cristiano

Opera Holland Park Chorus

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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Mark Valencia

Mark has worked in arts journalism for four decades, both as a writer and as a French-English translator. Nowadays he focuses his energies on reviewing opera and music. Mark also writes for Opera magazine and for Musical America as a correspondent for Europe and the UK.