Maria Stuarda and Donizetti's "vil bastarda" in Liège

By Simon Rees, 29 May 2014

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Reviewed at Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège, Liège on 18 May 2014

Donizetti, Maria Stuarda

Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège

Aldo Sisillo, Conductor

Francesco Esposito, Director

Italo Grassi, Set Designer

Martine Reyners, Maria Stuarda

Elisa Barbero, Elisabetta

Pietro Picone, Earl of Leicester

Ivan Thirion, Cecil

Pierre Gathier, Talbot

Laura Balidemaj, Anna

Orchestra de Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège

Chœur de Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège

Gregory Kunde is splendid in Liege’s new Don Carlos

Ako Imamura, 5th February

The Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège takes a risk in mounting a new, but traditional production of the more rarely heard French version of Verdi’s Don Carlos and succeeds with a great ensemble of singers.

****1

Under the eye of Horus: Aida in Liège

Mark Pullinger, 9th March

Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera's staging for Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège is stolid in direction, but Speranza Scappucci breathes life into Verdi's drama from the pit.

***11

Tragic dignity and pathos from José Cura's Otello

John Johnston, 29th June

Cura's powerful spinto tenor impressed from his opening “Esultate!” and left no doubt as to the Moor's authority.

****1

A Verdi pilgrimage to Liège for Jérusalem

Mark Pullinger, 17th March

Stefano Mazzonis di Pralafera, artistic director at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège, presents at plucky new staging of Verdi's rarely seen Jérusalem.

****1

De la poudre aux yeux : fragile Traviata à l'Opéra de Liège

Irma Foletti, 21st September

La mise en scène de Thaddeus Strassberger s'efforce d'en mettre plein la vue mais elle ne rend pas justice au drame de Verdi, tandis qu'Irina Lungu déçoit dans le rôle-titre.

**111

I Capuleti e i Montecchi à Liège, ou les émotions du bel canto

Patrice Lieberman, 19th May

La mise en scène sobre d’Allex Aguilera et la direction subtile de Maurizio Benini servent une belle production de l'opéra de Bellini, avec un duo d'amoureux parfaitement incarné par Rosa Feola et Raffaella Lupinacci.

****1

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Simon Rees

Simon Rees writes programme articles and surtitles for most British opera companies, and reviews for Opera, Opera Now, Musical Opinion, Early Music Today and a wide range of other publications. A novelist, poet and librettist, from 1989 to 2012 he was dramaturg at Welsh National Opera. He lives in Cardiff.