Edinburgh International Festival: Opéra de Lyon's Fidelio from deepest space – with Segways

By David Smythe, 12 August 2013

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Reviewed at Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Edinburgh on 10 August 2013

Beethoven, Fidelio

Opéra de Lyon

Erika Sunnegårdh, Leonore

Nikolai Schukoff, Florestan

Michael Eder, Rocco

Pavlo Hunka, Don Pizarro

Andrew Schroeder, Don Fernando

Karen Vourc'h, Marzelline

Christian Baumgartel, Jaquino

Kazushi Ono, Conductor

Gary Hill, Video

Billy Budd, or the Triumph of Beauty at the Opéra de Lyon

Stéphane Lelièvre, 21st March

The Opéra de Lyon presents Britten’s masterpiece for the first time: a triumph, both visually and musically, which is received with great enthusiasm by the audience.

****1

All that glitters: Barrie Kosky's Coq d'or opens in Lyon

Mark Pullinger, 20th May

Its premiere postponed from Festival d'Aix last summer, Barrie Kosky's staging of Rimsky-Korsakov's political satire finally takes place in Lyon.

*****

Seeing double: Bluebeard’s Castle at Opéra de Lyon

Zoltán Szabó, 26th March

A controversial new production of Bluebeard's Castle by Andriy Zholdak in which Bartók's opera is played out twice...

**111

La Cenerentola in Edinburgh: comic direction to savour

David Karlin, 24th August

Herheim pulls us in unexpected directions, makes us laugh and makes us think as we enjoy fine Rossinian music and singing in Opéra de Lyon's production.

****1

Marton turns Don Giovanni into a wrist-slashing wimp

Jonathan Sutherland, 25th June

A disappointing new production by David Marton at Opéra de Lyon.

**111

Darkness and grandeur in Christophe Honoré's Don Carlos

Mark Pullinger, 17th March

A (nearly) complete performance of the original French version of Don Carlos forms the centrepiece of Daniele Rustioni's Verdi Festival in Lyon.

****1

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David Smythe

David the farmer was drawn into music through choirs, orchestras, taking part in and directing 'serious' opera as a student. Passionate about live classical music, particularly chamber opera, unusual pieces and events and giving the next generation the tools to engage with the classical world.