Dorset Opera deals with the devil in Gounod's Faust

By Dominic Lowe, 28 July 2017

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“his treacly rich bass-baritone oozing seductively”

Reviewed at Coade Theatre, Bryanston, Blandford Forum on 26 July 2017

Gounod, Faust

Dorset Opera

Jeremy Carnall, Conductor

Christopher Cowell, Director

Alejandro del Cerro, Faust

Anna Patalong, Marguerite

Mark S Doss, Méphistophélès

Nicholas Lester, Valentin

Sarah Pring, Marthe

Simone Riksman, Siebel

Sins of the fathers: Le Cid at Dorset Opera Festival

Dominic Lowe, 26th July

Dorset Opera Festival's bold decision to programme Massenet's obscure opera about a medieval Castilian hero proves to be a major success.

****1

A girl next door: La bohème at Dorset Opera Festival

Dominic Lowe, 25th July

It's not easy to imagine a freezing Parisian attic when you're in the middle of the rolling Dorset countryside in a baking summer, but Dorset Opera's excellent production of Puccini's La bohème is atmospheric enough to do so.

****1

Threesome? Sheep? Le Comte Ory at Dorset Opera

Dominic Lowe, 25th July

A simple, but funny production with a strong cast and an enthusiastic chorus brought Rossini's comedy to life.

****1

Plenty of toil but no trouble in Macbeth

Dominic Lowe, 27th July

Hot on the heels of its Eugene Onegin, full of potential marriages that never reach the altar, Dorset Opera put on an excellent production of an opera with a successful, slick and murderous power couple.

****1

Eugene Onegin at the Dorset Opera Festival

Dominic Lowe, 26th July

Deep in Dorset, Anna Patalong gives a powerful Tatyana, ably supported by a well-taught chorus in an English translation of Tchaikovsky's opera of hearts and friendships broken.

***11

Sins of the fathers: Le Cid at Dorset Opera Festival

Dominic Lowe, 26th July

Dorset Opera Festival's bold decision to programme Massenet's obscure opera about a medieval Castilian hero proves to be a major success.

****1

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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.