Send in the Clowns: Garsington's Bartered Bride returns

The Bartered Bride

Oliver Johnston (Jeník) and Pumeza Matshikiza (Mařenka)

Oliver Johnston (Jeník) and Garsington Opera Chorus

The Bartered Bride

By Roy Westbrook, 01 July 2023

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“Jac van Steen seems to know and love every bar of this work”

Reviewed at Garsington Opera, High Wycombe on 30 June 2023

Smetana, The Bartered Bride (Prodaná nevěsta)

Garsington Opera

Jac van Steen, Conductor

Rosie Purdie, Director

Kevin Knight, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Howard Hudson, Lighting Designer

Philharmonia Orchestra

Garsington Opera Chorus

Pumeza Matshikiza, Mařenka

Oliver Johnston, Jeník

David Ireland, Kecal

John Findon, Vašek

Isabelle Peters, Esmeralda

Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, The Ringmaster

Louise Winter, Háta

John Savournin, Micha

William Dazeley, Krušina

Yvonne Howard, Ludmila

Darren Royston, Choreography

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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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.