Death Becomes Her: Floris Visser's new Bohème at Glyndebourne

Christopher Lemmings (Parpignol/Death) and ensemble

Ivo Stanchev, Yaritza Véliz, Luthando Qave, Sehoon Moon and Daniel Scofield

Daniel Scofield (Marcello), Ivo Stanchev (Colline) and Sehoon Moon (Rodolfo)

Sehoon Moon (Rodolfo) and Yaritza Véliz (Mimì)

La bohème

By Kevin W Ng, 19 June 2022

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“for all of its minimalism it’s incredibly beautiful, as if a Brassaï had come to life”

Reviewed at Glyndebourne Opera House, Glyndebourne on 18 June 2022

Puccini, La bohème

Glyndebourne Festival Opera

Jordan de Souza, Conductor

Floris Visser, Director

Dieuweke van Reij, Set Designer

Jon Morrell, Costume Designer

Alex Brok, Lighting Designer

London Philharmonic Orchestra

The Glyndebourne Chorus

Long Long, Rodolfo

Yaritza Véliz, Mimì

Daniel Scofield, Marcello

Vuvu Mpofu, Musetta

Ivo Stanchev, Colline

Luthando Qave, Schaunard

Christopher Lemmings, Parpignol

Darren Jeffery, Alcindoro

Richard Suart, Benoît

Glyndebourne revives Michieletto’s Kátya Kabanová

Mark Valencia, 3rd August

Damiano Michieletto’s production of Janáček’s opera breaks a key tenet of high-concept opera: where it should reveal, it obfuscates.

***11

All the world’s a jest: Falstaff returns to Glyndebourne

Mark Pullinger, 23rd July

Richard Jones' 2009 production returns to Glyndebourne after a long absence, but the 1940s comedy scrubs up fresh.

***11

A strong new Figaro opens at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 29th June

Mariame Clément is a popular director at Glyndebourne, and her new production of Figaro shows her trademark approach to hardhitting comedy.

****1

Glyndebourne's Saul still packs a punch 10 years on

Nick Boston, 8th June

Returning from the original run, Christopher Purves and Iestyn Davies were joined by a strong cast and chorus for a revival of Barrie Kosky's striking production.

*****

Unhurried suspense in a very English Parsifal

Peter Quantrill, 17th May

Compelling singers carry the day in the Glyndebourne Festival Opera's first staging of Wagner’s swansong.

****1

Glyndebourne’s season opens with Rossini’s Barber of Seville

David Karlin, 16th May

Annabel Arden’s production provides joyous comedy, with vocal and orchestral performances of the very finest.

*****

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Kevin W Ng

Kevin writes about music and culture, with a focus on opera. Originally trained as a violinist, he has a particular interest in 20th-century music. He is currently based in New York City.