A truly great Gatsby: John Harbison's opera gets a thrilling performance in Boston

By Roger Smith, 10 June 2013

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Reviewed at New England Conservatory: Jordan Hall, Boston on 12 May 2013

Harbison, The Great Gatsby

Gordon Gietz, Jay Gatsby

Devon Guthrie, Daisy Guthrie

Alex Richardson, Tom Buchanan

David Kravitz, Nick Carraway

Krista River, Jordan Baker

David Cushing, George Wilson

Katherine Growdon, Myrtle Wilson

Charles Blandy, Tenor

Lynn Torgove, Mezzo-soprano

James Maddalena, Baritone

Donald Wilkinson, Bass

Dana Whiteside, Baritone

Ryan Turner, Conductor

Orchestra of Emmanuel Music

Chorus of Emmanuel Music

Irish National Opera’s new Rusalka intrigues more than it convinces

Andrew Larkin, 22nd March

Netia Jones’ modern reimagining intrigues more than it convinces, but still makes a strong case for Dvořák’s dark fairy tale.

***11

Magnifying Glass: a magnificent Les Enfants terribles in Lille

Elena Luporini, 20th March

A new production of Les Enfants terribles at the Opéra de Lille drags the audience into a terribly marvelous labyrinth, courtesy of conductor Virginie Déjos and directors Matthias Piro and Lisa Moro.

*****

Opera Australia’s Eugene Onegin shines musically

Sandra Bowdler, 17th March

Eugene Onegin returns to the Sydney Opera house in Kasper Holten’s slightly awkward production but the singing and orchestral playing are exemplary.

****1

Siegfried at the RBO: Kosky and Pappano surprise and delight

David Karlin, 17th March

A revelatory orchestral performance and a cast led by Andreas Schager, Christopher Maltman and Elisabeth Strid make this a Siegfried for the record books.

*****

Hedging its bets: La finta giardiniera at the Royal College of Music

Dominic Lowe, 16th March

Mozart's teenage comedy is more complicated then Figaro but is easy on the ear, with many opportunities for a young cast to shine.

***11

Washington National Opera marches onward with a joyous Treemonisha

Sam Jacobson, 15th March

A vibrant new production of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha at Washington National Opera underscores the opera’s enduring message of education, community and social justice.

****1

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Roger Smith

Roger Smith was born in London and studied for BA in Music at Kingston University, followed by an MMus in Music Theory and Analysis at Goldsmiths College. He studied opera at Birkbeck College, the City Lit and Morley College.