The Grange Festival's Falstaff hits all the right notes

By Dominic Lowe, 11 June 2019

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“paunch proudly puffed out, exuding that air of fading aristocracy with casual grace”

Reviewed at The Grange, Alresford on 9 June 2019

Verdi, Falstaff

The Grange Festival

Francesco Cilluffo, Conductor

Christopher Luscombe, Director

Simon Higlett, Set Designer

Robert Hayward, Sir John Falstaff

Elin Pritchard, Alice Ford

Nicholas Lester, Ford

Alessandro Fisher, Fenton

Rhian Lois, Nannetta

Susan Bickley, Mistress Quickly

Angela Simkin, Meg Page

Christopher Gillett, Bardolfo (Bardolph)

Pietro Di Bianco, Pistola (Pistol)

Graham Clark, Dr Caius

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Die Fledermaus at The Grange: Cabaret meets G&S

David Karlin, 20th June

A fine singing cast gives creditable performances in Johann Stauss II's most famous operetta, but Paul Curran's updating of Act 2 to 1930s Berlin takes the fizz out of the Champagne.

***11

The Rake's Progress at The Grange: richly entertaining

David Karlin, 23rd June

Singing performances are excellent, the staging is well crafted and Stravinsky's eclectic score entertains from start to finish. But it's an evening's opera that doesn't touch the soul.

****1

L’incoronazione di Poppea vividly brought to life at the Grange

David Truslove, 7th June

Terrific music making with a light directorial touch brings mixed results to Monteverdi's 1643 masterpiece.

***11

Obsession at The Grange: The Queen of Spades

David Karlin, 23rd June

In a setting that might be The Grange itself, a production which steadily tightens its grip until a blistering finish.

*****

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

Tension accumulates in Handel’s Tamerlano at The Grange Festival

David Truslove, 10th June

Some exceptional singing intermittently enlivens Daniel Slater's production which, dramatically and emotionally, takes time to ignite.

***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.