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A heroine on heroin: ENO’s cold Bohème lacks heart

By Mark Pullinger, 17 October 2015
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“What is one of the most romantic encounters in opera is thus rendered devoid of romance”
Reviewed at The London Coliseum, London on 16 October 2015
Programme
Puccini, La bohème
Performers
English National Opera
Xian Zhang, Conductor
Benedict Andrews, Director
Victoria Behr, Costume Designer
Johannes Schütz, Set Designer
Corinne Winters, Mimì
Rhian Lois, Musetta
Zach Borichevsky, Rodolfo
Duncan Rock, Marcello
Ashley Riches, Schaunard
Simon Butteriss, Alcindoro, Benoît
Nicholas Masters, Colline
English National Opera Orchestra
English National Opera Chorus
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ENO’s Mahagonny: biting, bleak, brilliantly executed satire
David Karlin, 16th February
Never has Brecht and Weill’s satire on the inhumanity of man to man been render with such utter darkness; Simon O’Neill heads up a superb cast.
*****
Taken for a ride: an energetic revival of Così fan tutte at ENO
Dominic Lowe, 6th February
English National Opera's revival of Phelim McDermott’s popular production is a blend of spectacle with some first-class singing, with Lucy Crowe emphasising her Mozartian credentials. 
****1
Cocteau-esque camp: Alden’s Partenope returns to ENO
Mark Valencia, 20th November
Christopher Alden’s Olivier Award-winning production of Handel’s Partenope returns to the Coliseum, but it's the singing that earns the plaudits. 
****1
Dead Man Walking at English National Opera: a superb execution
David Karlin, 1st November
Anneliese Miskimmon's ENO production of Jake Heggie and Terence McNally's tale of crime, repentance, compassion and redemption compels from start to finish.
*****
Comedy falls flat in ENO's season opening Cinderella
Mark Valencia, 27th September
Julia Burbach and her designer, Herbert Murauer, are defeated by the wide canyons of the Coliseum stage in their modern-dress Cinderella. 
**111
ENO gives Thea Musgrave's Mary, Queen of Scots a worthy performance
Nick Boston, 15th February
Musgrave's powerful depiction of a powerful woman at the mercy of male manipulation receives a strong staging from at ENO. 
****1
More reviews...
Read reviews of
Ashley RichesBenedict AndrewsCorinne WintersDuncan RockEnglish National OperaEnglish National Opera ChorusEnglish National Opera OrchestraGiacomo PucciniJohannes SchützLa bohèmeNicholas MastersRhian LoisSimon ButterissVictoria BehrXian ZhangZach Borichevsky
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Mark Pullinger
Mark Pullinger
Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.