The Enchanted Island a rich and strange Baroque confection

By John Johnston, 06 September 2018

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“Prospero, sung commandingly by the countertenor Tom Scott-Cowell, even throughout his range”

Reviewed at Sadler's Wells: Peacock Theatre, London on 5 September 2018

Various, The Enchanted Island

British Youth Opera

Nicholas Kraemer, Conductor

Stuart Barker, Director

Nicky Shaw, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Thomas Scott-Cowell, Prospero

Frances Gregory, Sycorax

Iúnó Connolly, Ariel

Timothy Edlin, Caliban

Milly Forrest, Miranda

Alexander Bevan, Neptune

Timothy Morgan, Ferdinand

Caroline Taylor, Helena

Natalie Davies, Hermia

Richard Bignall, Demetrius

James Atkinson, Lysander

Southbank Sinfonia

Impressive Rake’s Progress from British Youth Opera

David Truslove, 4th September

Fine performances from a confident cast brought some terrific singing as well as depth of characterisation in Stravinsky’s only full-length opera.

****1

Eccentric circles: a youthful take from BYO

Matthew Rye, 7th September

British Youth Opera revives a forgotten operatic entertainment from the 1960s with flair and professionalism.

****1

Soaring straight into our hearts

Charlotte Valori, 8th September

Jonathan Dove's joyous old-fashioned fairytale, magically realised in a very stylish production including some wonderfully original puppetry, is a fabulous talent showcase from British Youth Opera - and fun for all the family.

****1

Fall in love all over again: Cimarosa's The Secret Marriage with British Youth Opera

Charlotte Valori, 11th September

The Secret Marriage has been a hit from its earliest days. At its 1792 première in Vienna, King Leopold II was so delighted by the performance that he ordered the whole company to repair to his mansion, be treated to a magnificent dinner, “and then play the entire opera through again, immediately”.

****1

British Youth Opera takes on a New World in Britten's Paul Bunyan

Jaime Robles, 7th September

Wit is the ruling spirit of British Youth Opera’s delectable production of Benjamin Britten and W.H. Auden’s operetta Paul Bunyan, directed by Will Kerley.

***11

British Youth Opera 25th anniversary season: A Night at the Chinese Opera

Paul Kilbey, 12th September

British Youth Opera have been fostering the best of young British vocal talent for 25 years, and it’s a delight to see them celebrating their anniversary this year with a work precisely as old as they are: Judith Weir’s A Night at the Chinese Opera dates from 1987, and made for a lively showcase for these rising stars at London’s Peacock Theatre last night.

***11

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John Johnston

John Johnston was a contributor to Bachtrack 2017-19. John was a true gentleman and lifelong opera "nut" who frequently travelled across Europe to catch performances, making regular pilgrimages to the Bayreuth Festival among others. His supreme knowledge and appreciation of voices meant he took to reviewing like the proverbial duck to water. We enjoyed his style and his insatiable appetite for catching rare operas and new productions wherever he could.

The Enchanted Island a rich and strange Baroque confection from British Youth Opera