Simon O'Neill and the APO standouts in Auckland Fidelio

By Simon Holden, 10 May 2021

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“a driven performance, exhilarating in its dramatic moments”

Reviewed at Auckland Town Hall: Great Hall, Auckland on 8 May 2021

Beethoven, Fidelio (concert performance)

Giordano Bellincampi, Conductor

Jacqueline Coats, Director

Simon O'Neill, Florestan

Kirstin Sharpin, Leonore

Phillip Rhodes, Don Pizarro

Paul Whelan, Rocco

James Ioelu, Don Fernando

Oliver Sewell, Jaquino

Natasha Wilson, Marzelline

Freemasons New Zealand Opera Chorus

Auckland Philharmonia

Gluck reimagined: (m)Orpheus in Auckland

Simon Holden, 6th September

Gareth Farr re-orchestrates Gluck in Neil Ieremia's imaginative reinterpretation of the Orpheus myth for New Zealand Opera.

****1

Talented young cast shines in New Zealand Opera's La bohème

Simon Holden, 19th September

It was hard not to be drawn in by the romance and tragedy as presented by such a sincere, credible and vocally talented young cast and a conductor with such strong identification with the idiom.

****1

Irish National Opera’s new Rusalka intrigues more than it convinces

Andrew Larkin, 22nd March

Netia Jones’ modern reimagining intrigues more than it convinces, but still makes a strong case for Dvořák’s dark fairy tale.

***11

Magnifying Glass: a magnificent Les Enfants terribles in Lille

Elena Luporini, 20th March

A new production of Les Enfants terribles at the Opéra de Lille drags the audience into a terribly marvelous labyrinth, courtesy of conductor Virginie Déjos and directors Matthias Piro and Lisa Moro.

*****

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.

*****

Opera Australia’s Eugene Onegin shines musically

Sandra Bowdler, 17th March

Eugene Onegin returns to the Sydney Opera house in Kasper Holten’s slightly awkward production but the singing and orchestral playing are exemplary.

****1

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Simon Holden

Simon is an operaphile based in Auckland, New Zealand. He wrote his dissertation on Japanese popular music. With a background in piano and classical music retail, he spends his time attending as much opera or vocal concert as he can and blogs at irishenceaway.blogspot.com.

Simon O'Neill and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra standouts in Fidelio