Midsummer Opera celebrates 30th Anniversary Season

By Kathryn Wareham, 22 November 2015

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Reviewed at St John's, Waterloo, London on 20 November 2015

Verdi, Un ballo in maschera

Midsummer Opera

David Roblou, Conductor

Lynne McAdam, Director

Jane Streeton, Amelia

Catrine Kirkman, Oscar

Joanna Gamble, Ulrica

Christopher Hollis, Judge

John Upperton, Riccardo

Andrew Mayor, Renato

Justin Bindley, Samuel

Brewer, Tony, Silvano

Graham Stone, Tom

Midsummer Opera: Otello

Roger Smith, 18th October

Small London company Midsummer Opera's production of Verdi's huge Otello was extremely ambitious, with a full orchestra filling St Johns Church, Waterloo. Tenor John Upperton took on a lot, acting as chorusmaster as well as singing Otello, and he took the evening's vocal honours.

***11

Midsummer Opera: Otello

Roger Smith, 18th October

***11

Glyndebourne’s first Tosca: vocally strong but imperfect

David Karlin, 21st May

Ted Huffman brings some interesting ideas to his first Glyndebourne production. Excellent singing is let down by indifferent physical acting.

***11

The ears have it: Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas on the Cutty Sark

Mark Valencia, 21st May

Come away fellow sailors, your anchors be weighing! All board the Cutty Sark for a semi-staging of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists.

****1

Anna Netrebko gatecrashes Riccardo Chailly’s La Scala farewell

Laura Servidei, 16th May

Riccardo Chailly’s final new production as artistic director is a celebration of Verdi and of a conductor whose relationship with the Milanese audience has clearly deepened over the years.

*****

The Drover's Wife brings Aboriginal Dreaming to opera audiences

Jeremy Eccles, 16th May

Emerging from different incarnations of Leah Purcell’s play, George Palmer’s opera develops traditional Dreaming elements from Aboriginal mythology, premiering in Brisbane.

****1

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Kathryn Wareham

Having decided her life mission was to become a drummer (aged five), Kathryn now sings opera and presents classical music radio programmes across the South of England. Kathryn studied Music at both Royal Holloway, University of London and Paris IV – La Sorbonne, Paris and upon graduation coached students in Québec for regional talent competitions. Recently returned from travelling around North America, Kathryn is devouring the music scene in London where she currently resides.

Midsummer Opera celebrates 30th Anniversary Season with Un ballo in maschera