Comedy and seriousness: Young Opera Venture's The Marriage of Figaro in Middlesborough

By Jane Shuttleworth, 18 March 2013

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Reviewed at Middlesbrough Theatre, Middlesbrough on 14 March 2013

Mozart, Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro)

Young Opera Venture

Jane Anthony, Director

John Longstaff, Conductor

Miles Horner, Figaro

Wendy Carr, Susanna

Philip Wilcox, Count Almaviva

Sarah Ogden, Countess Almaviva

Imogen Garner, Marcellina

Matthew Kellett, Doctor Bartolo

Fiona Wilkie, Cherubino

Richard Hansen, Don Basilio

Young Opera Venture Chorus and Orchestra

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

Billy Budd, or the Triumph of Beauty at the Opéra de Lyon

Stéphane Lelièvre, 21st March

The Opéra de Lyon presents Britten’s masterpiece for the first time: a triumph, both visually and musically, which is received with great enthusiasm by the audience.

****1

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.

*****

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

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.

*****

Hedging its bets: La finta giardiniera at the Royal College of Music

Dominic Lowe, 16th March

Mozart's teenage comedy is more complicated then Figaro but is easy on the ear, with many opportunities for a young cast to shine.

***11

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Jane Shuttleworth

Jane Shuttleworth is a choral singer and recorder player, and specialises in Renaissance, baroque and modern music. She lives in Durham and runs a local music listings, news and reviews site Music in Durham