Brush up your Puccini: a 16th-century Bohème

By Mark Pullinger, 12 June 2016

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“Patalong sang a gorgeous Mimì, her creamy soprano flecked with luscious, dark tone”

Reviewed at Holland Park Theatre, London on 11 June 2016

Puccini, La bohème

Opera Holland Park

Matthew Kofi Waldren, Conductor

Stephen Barlow, Director

Anna Patalong, Mimì

Shaun Dixon, Rodolfo

Elin Pritchard, Musetta

Andrew Finden, Marcello

Frederick Long, Schaunard

John Savournin, Colline

Michael Bradley, Parpignol

James Harrison, Alcindoro

David Woloszko, Benoît

City of London Sinfonia

Bang! Mozart’s volcano erupts in Opera Holland Park’s Così fan tutte

Peter Quantrill, 28th May

Mount Vesuvius looms over Cecilia Stinton’s compelling new production of Così fan tutte.

****1

Opera Holland Park makes a convincing case for La fanciulla del West

Dominic Lowe, 26th May

A thoughtful production from Martin Lloyd-Evans and magnificent playing from Matthew Kofi Walden and the City of London Sinfonia make the case for why Puccini's under-appreciated work is actually so sophisticated.

****1

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

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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.

Brush up your Puccini: a 16th-century Bohème at Holland Park