Garsington Opera's new A Midsummer Night's Dream

Iestyn Davies (Oberon) and Lucy Crowe (Tytania)

Caspar Singh (Lysander) and James Newby (Demetrius)

Lucy Crowe (Tytania) and Richard Burkhead (Bottom)

Iestyn Davies (Oberon) and Lucy Crowe (Tytania)

By Roy Westbrook, 17 June 2024

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“The rustics made a plausible group, acting and singing well”

Reviewed at Garsington Opera, High Wycombe on 16 June 2024

Britten, A Midsummer Night's Dream

Garsington Opera

Douglas Boyd, Conductor

Netia Jones, Director, Set Designer, Costume Designer

DM Wood, Lighting Designer

Philharmonia Orchestra

Garsington Opera Chorus

Iestyn Davies, Oberon

Lucy Crowe, Tytania

Jerone Marsh-Reid, Puck

Richard Burkhard, Bottom

Camilla Harris, Helena

Stephanie Wake-Edwards, Hermia

Caspar Singh, Lysander

James Newby, Demetrius

Nicholas Crawley, Theseus

Christine Rice, Hippolyta

John Savournin, Quince

Geoffrey Dolton, Starveling

Frazer Scott, Snug

James Way, Flute

Adam Sullivan, Snout

Garsington Opera Youth Company

A radically trad Fidelio at Garsington

Peter Quantrill, 27th June

Simple solutions prove the best in Beethoven's "problem" opera as John Cox's staging is revived at Garsington.

****1

Ravishing Rodelinda: Handel al fresco at Garsington Opera

Roy Westbrook, 13th June

Ruth Knight untangles Handel's Rodelinda, directing a new staging at Garsington which features a feast of fine singing.

****1

Three card trick: compelling new Queen of Spades at Garsington

Roy Westbrook, 29th May

Jack Furness directs a terrific new Queen of Spades at Garsington – haunting and harrowing.

****1

Garsington’s L’elisir d’amore: Dr Feelgood wins the day

David Karlin, 28th May

Simon Higlett’s exquisite sets and costumes give a backdrop to Donizetti’s frothiest of rom-coms.

****1

Madcap comedy from Verdi: Un giorno di regno at Garsington

David Karlin, 29th June

Christopher Alden, Chris Hopkins and an excellent cast send us a comic roller coaster ride with Verdi’s ultra-rarely performed second opera.

*****

Rameau meets The Kardashians: Platée at Garsington

David Karlin, 29th May

A superb orchestral performance from Paul Agnew and The English Concert lights up a breezy and fun staging of Rameau's ballet bouffon.

***11

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Roy Westbrook

Roy Westbrook gained a diploma in music history at London University (Morley College) and was for some years the head of music day schools at Oxford University, where he also led music summer schools. After some years leading the University's business school he has returned to music teaching and writing, and recently took part in the Arts in Residence courses on Bruckner, Mahler and Bach He is co-author (with Terry Barfoot) of a history of opera, and has taught day schools on Sibelius in Oxford and elsewhere.

Some enchanted evening? Garsington Opera's new A Midsummer Night's Dream