The Grange Festival opens with Britten's Dream

By Roy Westbrook, 28 June 2021

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“Shakespeare does not tell us if Bottom did get his 'sixpence a day'... but Waddington deserved it”

Reviewed at The Grange, Alresford on 27 June 2021

Britten, A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Grange Festival

Anthony Kraus, Conductor

Paul Curran, Director, Set Designer

Gabriella Ingram, Costume Designer

Alexander Chance, Oberon

Samantha Clarke, Tytania

Chris Darmanin, Puck

Peter Kirk, Lysander

Alex Otterburn, Demetrius

Angela Simkin, Hermia

Eleanor Dennis, Helena

Henry Waddington, Bottom

Roberto Lorenzi, Theseus

Angharad Lyddon, Hippolyta

William Thomas, Quince

Ben Johnson, Flute

Sion Goronwy, Snug

Gwilym Bowen, Snout

Johnny Herford, Starveling

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Die Fledermaus at The Grange: Cabaret meets G&S

David Karlin, 20th June

A fine singing cast gives creditable performances in Johann Stauss II's most famous operetta, but Paul Curran's updating of Act 2 to 1930s Berlin takes the fizz out of the Champagne.

***11

The Rake's Progress at The Grange: richly entertaining

David Karlin, 23rd June

Singing performances are excellent, the staging is well crafted and Stravinsky's eclectic score entertains from start to finish. But it's an evening's opera that doesn't touch the soul.

****1

L’incoronazione di Poppea vividly brought to life at the Grange

David Truslove, 7th June

Terrific music making with a light directorial touch brings mixed results to Monteverdi's 1643 masterpiece.

***11

Obsession at The Grange: The Queen of Spades

David Karlin, 23rd June

In a setting that might be The Grange itself, a production which steadily tightens its grip until a blistering finish.

*****

A stylish Così fan tutte at The Grange Festival

David Truslove, 16th June

Entertainment ideal for country house opera-goers, enhanced by some fine singing and excellent playing from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

****1

Tension accumulates in Handel’s Tamerlano at The Grange Festival

David Truslove, 10th June

Some exceptional singing intermittently enlivens Daniel Slater's production which, dramatically and emotionally, takes time to ignite.

***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.

Live and recorded enchantments: Grange Festival opens with Britten's Dream