Revolutionary zeal gives way to tyranny in The Royal Opera’s Fidelio

Jennifer Davis (Leonore)

Jochen Schmeckenbecher (Don Pizarro) and Christina Gansch (Marzelline)

Eric Cutler (Florestan) and chorus

Peter Rose (Rocco), Jochen Schmeckenbecher (Don Pizarro) and chorus

Jennifer Davis (Leonore) and Peter Rose (Rocco)

By Dominic Lowe, 11 October 2024

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“Florestan is chained like a revolutionary Prometheus to the rock”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 9 October 2024

Beethoven, Fidelio

The Royal Opera

Alexander Soddy, Conductor

Tobias Kratzer, Director

Rainer Sellmaier, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Michael Bauer, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden

Royal Opera Chorus

Manuel Braun, Video designer

Jennifer Davis, Leonore

Eric Cutler, Florestan

Jochen Schmeckenbecher, Don Pizarro

Peter Rose, Rocco

Phillip Rhodes, Don Fernando

Michael Gibson, Jaquino

Christina Gansch, Marzelline

The Turn of the Screw at RBO Linbury: Darkness and denial

Eleanor Knight, 26th March

Natalie Abrahami’s mesmerising new production of Britten’s ghostly tale of sexual abuse is very dark indeed.

*****

A riveting Rigoletto revival at the Royal Opera House

Dominic Lowe, 25th March

Sir Mark Elder celebrates 50 years at Covent Garden by returning to his first opera there in 1976 – Verdi's Rigoletto – in a revival of Oliver Mears' excellent 2021 production.

****1

Siegfried at the RBO: Kosky and Pappano surprise and delight

David Karlin, 17th March

A revelatory orchestral performance and a cast led by Andreas Schager, Christopher Maltman and Elisabeth Strid make this a Siegfried for the record books.

*****

Terfel’s craggy Boris Godunov returns to Covent Garden

Mark Pullinger, 29th January

The second revival of Richard Jones' staging of Mussorgsky's original 1869 version of Boris Godunov once again stars the Welsh knight.

****1

Ermonela Jaho returns in triumph to The Royal Opera’s Traviata

Mark Valencia, 8th January

Richard Eyre’s 32-year-old production is rarely out of The Royal Opera’s repertoire for more than a few months at a time, but this particular revival proves very special.

*****

Turandot drowned in an orchestral tsunami at The Royal Opera

David Karlin, 15th December

Andrei Șerban’s 40 year old take on Puccini's tale of the ice princess largely stands the test of time, but Netrebko and Eyvazov are short of their best form.

***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.