Merriment aplenty in Cal McCrystal's Merry Widow at Glyndebourne

Danielle de Niese (Hanna) and cancan dancers

The Merry Widow

Danielle de Niese (Hanna) and Germán Olvera (Danilo)

Germán Olvera (Danilo) and Sir Thomas Allen (Baron Zeta)

Tom Edden (Njegus)

By Dominic Lowe, 11 June 2024

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“voice, stage charisma and a physical flair that was more than sufficient for McCrystal’s demands”

Reviewed at Glyndebourne Opera House, Glyndebourne on 9 June 2024

Lehár, Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow) (Sung in English)

Glyndebourne Festival Opera

John Wilson, Conductor

Cal McCrystal, Director

Gary McCann, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Ben Cracknell, Lighting Designer

London Philharmonic Orchestra

The Glyndebourne Chorus

Danielle de Niese, Hanna Glawari

Germán Olvera, Count Danilo Danilovich

Sir Thomas Allen, Baron Mirko Zeta

Soraya Mafi, Valencienne

Michael McDermott, Camille de Rosillon

Alex Otterburn, Vicomte Cascada

Innocent Masuku, Raoul de St Brioche

Tom Edden, Njegus

Michael Wallace, Kromow

Rachel Taylor, Olga

Adam Marsden, Bogdanovich

Emily Hodkinson, Sylviane

John Mackenzie-Lavansch, Pritschitsch

Melissa Gregory, Praskowia

Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, Choreography

Glyndebourne revives Michieletto’s Kátya Kabanová

Mark Valencia, 3rd August

Damiano Michieletto’s production of Janáček’s opera breaks a key tenet of high-concept opera: where it should reveal, it obfuscates.

***11

All the world’s a jest: Falstaff returns to Glyndebourne

Mark Pullinger, 23rd July

Richard Jones' 2009 production returns to Glyndebourne after a long absence, but the 1940s comedy scrubs up fresh.

***11

A strong new Figaro opens at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 29th June

Mariame Clément is a popular director at Glyndebourne, and her new production of Figaro shows her trademark approach to hardhitting comedy.

****1

Glyndebourne's Saul still packs a punch 10 years on

Nick Boston, 8th June

Returning from the original run, Christopher Purves and Iestyn Davies were joined by a strong cast and chorus for a revival of Barrie Kosky's striking production.

*****

Unhurried suspense in a very English Parsifal

Peter Quantrill, 17th May

Compelling singers carry the day in the Glyndebourne Festival Opera's first staging of Wagner’s swansong.

****1

Glyndebourne’s season opens with Rossini’s Barber of Seville

David Karlin, 16th May

Annabel Arden’s production provides joyous comedy, with vocal and orchestral performances of the very finest.

*****

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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.