Blinded by passion: Cav & Pag returns to the Royal Opera House

Jorge de Léon (Canio) and Anna Princeva (Nedda)

Elena Zilio (Mamma Lucia) and Aleksandra Kurzak (Santuzza)

A scene from Cavalleria rusticana

Dimitri Platanias (Alfio)

Anna Princeva (Nedda ) and Andrzej Filończyk (Silvio)

By Dominic Lowe, 01 December 2023

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“jarring moments of personal disconnect that open our eyes to the hell of the personal psyche”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 30 November 2023

Mascagni, Cavalleria rusticana

Leoncavallo, Pagliacci

The Royal Opera

Daniel Oren, Conductor

Damiano Michieletto, Director

Paolo Fantin, Set Designer

Carla Teti, Costume Designer

Alessandro Carletti, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Royal Opera Chorus

Noa Naamat, Revival Director

Aleksandra Kurzak, Santuzza

Roberto Alagna, Turiddu

Dimitri Platanias, Alfio, Tonio

Elena Zilio, Mamma Lucia

Rachael Wilson, Lola

Jorge de León, Canio

Anna Princeva, Nedda

Andrzej Filończyk, Silvio

Mikeldi Atxalandabaso, Beppe

The Turn of the Screw at RBO Linbury: Darkness and denial

Eleanor Knight, 26th March

Natalie Abrahami’s mesmerising new production of Britten’s ghostly tale of sexual abuse is very dark indeed.

*****

A riveting Rigoletto revival at the Royal Opera House

Dominic Lowe, 25th March

Sir Mark Elder celebrates 50 years at Covent Garden by returning to his first opera there in 1976 – Verdi's Rigoletto – in a revival of Oliver Mears' excellent 2021 production.

****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.

*****

Terfel’s craggy Boris Godunov returns to Covent Garden

Mark Pullinger, 29th January

The second revival of Richard Jones' staging of Mussorgsky's original 1869 version of Boris Godunov once again stars the Welsh knight.

****1

Ermonela Jaho returns in triumph to The Royal Opera’s Traviata

Mark Valencia, 8th January

Richard Eyre’s 32-year-old production is rarely out of The Royal Opera’s repertoire for more than a few months at a time, but this particular revival proves very special.

*****

Turandot drowned in an orchestral tsunami at The Royal Opera

David Karlin, 15th December

Andrei Șerban’s 40 year old take on Puccini's tale of the ice princess largely stands the test of time, but Netrebko and Eyvazov are short of their best form.

***11

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Dominic Lowe

Dominic Lowe recently completed a degree in Classics, and one of his great interests is the reception of Greece and Rome in opera. A regular opera-goer since his very early teens, he is particularly keen on the hidden operatic gems of the 19th century. He is largely based in the South of England.

Blinded by passion: Michieletto's Cav & Pag returns to the Royal Opera House