A fun-packed Falstaff from Opera Bohemia

By David Smythe, 24 August 2018

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“Hazel McBain and Seumas Begg were a thrillingly sung pair of would-be lovers”

Reviewed at Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling on 23 August 2018

Verdi, Falstaff

Opera Bohemia

Alistair Digges, Conductor

Adrian Osmond, Director

Kenneth MacLeod, Set Designer

Andrew McTaggart, Sir John Falstaff

Douglas Nairn, Ford

Catriona Clark, Alice Ford

Seumas Begg, Fenton

Hazel McBain, Nannetta

Susan Moore, Mistress Quickly

Fiona Mackenzie, Meg Page

Kenneth Reid, Bardolfo (Bardolph)

Jonathan Sedgwick, Pistola (Pistol)

Christian Schneeberger, Dr Caius

Opera Bohemia Ensemble

Butterfly brings a flutter of excitement to the Fringe

David Smythe, 24th August

Only a piano and violin accompany this well-sung pocket Madame Butterfly from Opera Bohemia at the Edinburgh Fringe, which works surprisingly well.

***11

Gianni Schicchi delights the Edinburgh Fringe

David Smythe, 20th August

Opera Bohemia bring the boisterous tale of Gianni Schicchi to the Edinburgh Fringe in a fun-filled hour of musical delight.

****1

A sorta fairy tale: Sleepers Awake premieres at Opera Philadelphia

Cameron Kelsall, 22nd April

A new opera by Gregory Spears subverts the Sleeping Beauty trope, with middling results.

**111

Asmik Grigorian strengthens the Met’s revival of Eugene Onegin

Susan Stempleski, 20th April

The Lithuanian soprano’s riveting performance as the central character in Tchaikovsky’s operatic masterpiece lights up Deborah Warner’s mostly bland production.

****1

At half mast: Simon Boccanegra revived in Vienna

Orsolya Gyárfás, 19th April

Marco Armiliato's conducting thrills and Federica Lombardi's radiant Amelia stands out in the Wiener Staatsoper's latest revival of Simon Boccanegra.

***11

Anna Netrebko shines in Vienna’s timeless Tosca

Laura Servidei, 18th April

In a world where opera productions often stray into the abstract, the Wiener Staatsoper’s Tosca offers a refreshing return to tradition – and Anna Netrebko delivers a splendid performance.

****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.

A fun-packed Falstaff from Opera Bohemia heading to the Edinburgh Fringe