Opera Lafayette's minimalistic Actéon conquers the Kennedy Center

By Raisa Massuda, 07 May 2013

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Reviewed at Kennedy Center: Terrace Theater, Washington on 2 May 2013

Charpentier, Actéon

Opera Lafayette

Ryan Brown, Conductor

Seán Curran, Director

Aaron Sheehan, Actéon

Yulia Van Doren, Diane

Orchestra of the Opera Lafayette

Opera Lafayette revives an 18th-century comic gem

Zerbinetta, 26th January

Opera Lafayette has uncovered a fascinating work in their revival of Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny’s 1762 comic opera Le roi et le fermier (The King and the Farmer). The Washington, D.C.

****1

Seán Curran Company at the Joyce: Beautiful dancing but few choreographic surprises

Rachel Rizzuto, 31st January

Mr Curran presented two New York premières at the Joyce, both of which had moments of interest and innovation but summarily failed to present a show worthy of my unequivocal recommendation. The first piece, Fireweather, was a partial retelling of Dante’s Inferno and consisted of seven parts.

***11

Comic overkill stunts Handel’s Giulio Cesare at Grange Festival

Mark Pullinger, 7th June

Despite excellent vocal performances, David Alden’s production of Giulio Cesare in Egitto aims at irreverence but overplays the comedy.

***11

Elin Pritchard leads a fine cast in Grange Park’s Don Carlo revival

Roy Westbrook, 6th June

Jo Davies’ 2016 staging is revived at the Theatre in the Woods, given a bold execution, led by a regal Elisabetta.

****1

Mozart blows a fuse: Entführung at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées

Laurence Vittes, 6th June

Jessica Pratt lights up the Parisian skies with her Konstanze in Florent Siaud’s new production of Mozart's Singspiel at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

***11

Tavener’s Krishna fails to convince in world premiere

Nick Boston, 4th June

John Tavener’s “mystical pantomime” proves a disappointment, despite strong performances from singers and orchestra in David Pountney’s production.

***11

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Raisa Massuda

A firm believer in the importance of music at any age, Raisa teaches Opera Appreciation Seminars in a Senior Center in Baltimore, MD. She has launched a Live Opera for Seniors series, allowing her low-income students to study and attend free. Raisa is the author of a music and opera blog called Mandolin Vision.