Spanish première for Heggie's Dead Man Walking

By Fernando Remiro, 31 January 2018

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“a pristine narrative arch that leads to the climatic confession”

Reviewed at Teatro Real: Sala Principal, Madrid on 29 January 2018

Heggie, Dead Man Walking

Teatro Real

Mark Wigglesworth, Conductor

Leonard Foglia, Director

Michael McGarty, Set Designer

Jess Goldstein, Costume Designer

Joyce DiDonato, Sister Helen Prejean

Michael Mayes, Joseph De Rocher

Maria Zifchak, Mrs. Patrick De Rocher

Measha Brueggergosman, Sister Rose

Damián del Castillo, George Benton

Roger Padullés, Father Grenville

María Hinojosa Montenegro, Kitty Hart

Toni Marsol, Owen Hart

Lucy Schaufer, Jade Boucher

Vicenç Esteve Madrid, Howard Boucher

Enric Martinez-Castignani, First Motorcycle Cop, First Prison Guard

Celia Alcedo, Sister Catherine

Marifé Nogales, Sister Lillianne

Tomeu Bibiloni, Second Prison Guard

Coro Titular del Teatro Real

Orquesta Titular del Teatro Real

Deborah Warner attains her theatrical dream at the Teatro Real

Juan José Freijo, 12th March

Warner once again displays her unquestionable talent onstage and her affinity with Benjamin Britten, although, on this occasion, the musical aspect are not equally satisfactory.

***11

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David Karlin, 17th April

John Adams’ opera about Richard Nixon’s historic meeting with Mao Tse-Tung is performed with all round excellence, with a real find on the podium in the shape of Olivia Lee-Gunderman.

****1

The martyrs and the oppressed: Peter Grimes at Teatro Real Madrid

Juan José Freijo, 19th April

The new production of Peter Grimes stands out as the strongest item in Teatro Real's season, with magnificent staging by Deborah Warner and superb musical direction by Ivor Bolton, with outstanding vocal and dramatic performances.

*****

Reality as a staging concept: La traviata at Teatro Real, Madrid

Juan José Freijo, 22nd July

In this historic reopening, Lisette Oropesa offers a magnificent performance, dramatically overwhelming and vocally very unique.

****1

La Veronal heads Into the Little Hill in Madrid

John Marten Barnard, 15th February

The Teatros del Canal host the Benjamin–Crimp partnership’s thrillingly dark, lyric retelling of Robert Browning’s famous 1842 poem The Pied Piper of Hamelin by La Veronal dance company.

*****

A disappointing new Falstaff from Laurent Pelly at the Teatro Real

Fernando Remiro, 25th April

Comedy fails to spark in Laurent Pelly's new production of Falstaff at the Teatro Real.

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Fernando Remiro

Fernando studied history and political science. He is passionate about opera and lied, a devoted fan of Benjamin Britten, and a lover of challenging stage productions. He wrote opera reviews for the Spanish musical magazine Ritmo and tweets about opera at @operatweets.

Clarity and rhythm: Spanish première for Heggie's Dead Man Walking