Beguiling Britten: GSMD's A Midsummer Night's Dream

By Francesca Vella, 01 March 2012

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Reviewed at Barbican Theatre, London on 28 February 2012

Britten, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Stephen Barlow, Conductor

Martin Lloyd-Evans, Director

Guildhall School Musicians

Tom Verney, Oberon

Ellie Laugharne, Tytania

Stuart Laing, Lysander

Kathryn McAdam, Hermia

Ashley Riches, Demetrius

Sky Ingram, Helena

Barnaby Rea, Bottom

Alexander Knox, Puck

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

Trapped in a vice: Il segreto di Susanna and Pagliacci at OHP

Dominic Lowe, 17th July

Joining OHP's 2019 production of Wolf-Ferrari's charming domestic comedy, a blazing new production of Pagliacci delivers everything that one could want from Leoncavallo's infamous opera.

*****

A stylish Così fan tutte at The Grange Festival

David Truslove, 16th June

Entertainment ideal for country house opera-goers, enhanced by some fine singing and excellent playing from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

****1

Dead Man Walking given a triumphant staging by Guildhall School

Mark Valencia, 27th February

Under Dominic Wheeler’s expert baton the musicians, all youthful if not downright young, give a spectacular account of a harrowing score.

****1

A dark-hued double bill of Margot la Rouge and Le Villi at OHP

Mark Valencia, 21st July

Puccini's Giselle-inspired opera is given a superb staging by Martin Lloyd-Evans to deliver Opera Holland Park's banger of the season.

****1

Matrimonial mayhem: Le nozze di Figaro at The Grange Festival

Dominic Lowe, 6th June

Lloyd-Evans' new production of Mozart's classic might be traditional, but there's no lack of astuteness in his direction of his characters. Problems in the pit hinder an otherwise strong musical performance.

****1

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Francesca Vella

Francesca is a PhD student at KCL, where she is researching Verdi reception in late nineteenth-century Milan. Besides being interested in cultural history and the history of Italian opera, she loves the classical and romantic piano and chamber music repertoire.