Parmesan hits the pasta in Garsington's new Barbiere di Siviglia

Johannes Kammler (Figaro)

Richard Burkhard (Bartolo)

Act 1 finale

Katie Bray (Rosina)

By Dominic Lowe, 02 June 2023

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“a vivacious, buoyant reading of the score”

Reviewed at Garsington Opera, High Wycombe on 31 May 2023

Rossini, Il barbiere di Siviglia

Garsington Opera

Douglas Boyd, Conductor

Christopher Luscombe, Director

Simon Higlett, Set Designer

Howard Hudson, Lighting Designer

The English Concert

Garsington Opera Chorus

Andrew Stenson, Count Almaviva

Johannes Kammler, Figaro

Katie Bray, Rosina

Richard Burkhard, Dr Bartolo

Josephine Goddard, Berta

Callum Thorpe, Don Basilio

A radically trad Fidelio at Garsington

Peter Quantrill, 27th June

Simple solutions prove the best in Beethoven's "problem" opera as John Cox's staging is revived at Garsington.

****1

Ravishing Rodelinda: Handel al fresco at Garsington Opera

Roy Westbrook, 13th June

Ruth Knight untangles Handel's Rodelinda, directing a new staging at Garsington which features a feast of fine singing.

****1

Three card trick: compelling new Queen of Spades at Garsington

Roy Westbrook, 29th May

Jack Furness directs a terrific new Queen of Spades at Garsington – haunting and harrowing.

****1

Garsington’s L’elisir d’amore: Dr Feelgood wins the day

David Karlin, 28th May

Simon Higlett’s exquisite sets and costumes give a backdrop to Donizetti’s frothiest of rom-coms.

****1

Madcap comedy from Verdi: Un giorno di regno at Garsington

David Karlin, 29th June

Christopher Alden, Chris Hopkins and an excellent cast send us a comic roller coaster ride with Verdi’s ultra-rarely performed second opera.

*****

Garsington Opera's new A Midsummer Night's Dream

Roy Westbrook, 16th June

In the first and last acts, ladies entered with a train still attached to a bolt of cloth, which was then cut to length by an attendant. Was this production brought to the stage in a great hurry, allowing no time for costume fittings?

***11

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Dominic Lowe

Dominic Lowe recently completed a degree in Classics, and one of his great interests is the reception of Greece and Rome in opera. A regular opera-goer since his very early teens, he is particularly keen on the hidden operatic gems of the 19th century. He is largely based in the South of England.