Bachtrack logo
What's on
All eventsConcertsOperaDanceKids eventsMasterclassesCompetitionsFestivals
Reviews
All reviewsConcert reviewsOpera reviewsDance reviews
Articles
All articlesFeaturesInterviewsOpinionPlaylists
News
Video
Video homeAll videoStreamed eventsConcertsOperaDanceKids eventsMasterclassesPublishers
Site
About usContact usLink to usConditions of useCookiesPrivacy
Young artists
Travel
EventsReviewsArticlesVideo

Sublime music compensates for a weak libretto: Wexford revives Mercadante's Il bravo

By Pia Maltri, 23 October 2018
Loading, please wait...
See full listing
“the opera doesn’t have a musically dull moment”
Reviewed at National Opera House: O’Reilly Theatre, Wexford on 21 October 2018
Programme
Mercadante, Il bravo
Performers
Wexford Festival Opera
Jonathan Brandani, Conductor
Renaud Doucet, Director
André Barbe, Set Designer
Rubens Pelizzari, Carlo
Ioana Constantin Pipelea, Michelina
Yasko Sato, Teodora
Ekaterina Bakanova, Violetta
José de Eça, Capello
Richard Shaffrey, Messenger
Alessandro Luciano, Pisani
Gustavo Castillo, Foscari
Szymon Mechliński, Luigi
Toni Nežić, Marco
Chorus of Wexford Festival Opera
Orchestra of Wexford Festival Opera
More Opera reviews
Delius’ The Magic Fountain disappoints at Wexford
Eleanor Knight, 19th October
Frederick Delius' gigantic score is worth a listen but Christopher Luscombe doesn’t circumvent the problems of directing this opera in 2025. 
**111
Handel’s Deidamia a triumph for Wexford Festival Opera
Eleanor Knight, 18th October
A rare opportunity to see Handel’s final operatic work, Deidamia, conducted – and staged – by George Petrou at Wexford Festival Opera. 
*****
Spanish Civil War Trouvère opens Wexford Festival Opera
Eleanor Knight, 17th October
The 74th Wexford Opera Festival opens with the French revision of Il trovatore that Verdi reforged for the Paris Opera. 
***11
Orpha Phelan delivers farcical Donizetti at the Wexford Festival Opera
Andrew Larkin, 20th October
Superlative singing, hilarious antics and an energetic production make Donizetti's Le Convenience ed inconvenience an exhilarating success. 
****1
Stanford's hilarious The Critic proves a Wexford knockout
Andrew Larkin, 19th October
Conor Hanratty's humorous production is a triumph from beginning to end, a must see at this year's Wexford Festival. 
*****
Mascagni's Le maschere struggles to take flight in Wexford opener
Andrew Larkin, 18th October
Excellent singing, an amusing production and lively staging showcases Mascagni's Le maschere in the best possible light at Wexford Festival Opera. 
***11
More reviews...
Read reviews of
Alessandro LucianoAndré BarbeChorus of Wexford Festival OperaEkaterina BakanovaGiuseppe Saverio MercadanteGustavo CastilloIoana Constantin PipeleaJonathan BrandaniJosé de EçaOrchestra of Wexford Festival OperaRenaud DoucetRichard ShaffreyRubens PelizzariSzymon MechlińskiToni NežićWexford Festival Opera
Related articles
Loading image...
Opera in the blood: Speranza Scappucci
Loading image...
Street-smart and subversive: Ailish Tynan talks Così fan tutte
Loading image...
Beyond the fever dream: Nadine Sierra reclaims her narrative
Loading image...
Houston Grand Opera names James Gaffigan as next Music Director
More by Pia Maltri
Loading image...
Vittorio Grigolo shines in a mixed new Roméo et Juliette at the Opera di Roma
Loading image...
After three centuries, Handel’s Il trionfo del tempo e del disinganno returns to Rome
Loading image...
Ariadne in Rome: David Hermann’s Strauss staging highlights contrasts
Loading image...
Abandon all hope: Lucia Ronchetti's Inferno receives Italian premiere
Pia Maltri
Pia Maltri

Pia first fell head over heels for opera when she was a teenager by listening to recordings of some of the great voices of the past: Maria Callas, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Mirella Freni, Alfredo Kraus. She holds a degree in Italian Literature and she lives in Rome.