Muhly's Marnie fails to find the drama of the novel

By Dominic Lowe, 20 November 2017

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“Muhly’s Glass-inspired writing, beautiful in the right setting, is not at ease with his subject”

Reviewed at The London Coliseum, London on 18 November 2017

Muhly, Marnie

English National Opera

Martyn Brabbins, Conductor

Michael Mayer, Director

Julian Crouch, Set Designer

Arianne Phillips, Costume Designer

Sasha Cooke, Marnie

Daniel Okulitch, Mark Rutland

James Laing, Terry

Lesley Garrett, Mrs Rutland

Diana Montague, Lucy

Alasdair Elliott, Mr Strutt

Kathleen Wilkinson, Marnie's mother

Eleanor Dennis, Laura Fleet

Matthew Durkan, Malcolm Fleet

Darren Jeffery, Dr Roman

English National Opera Chorus

English National Opera Orchestra

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*****

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****1

Cocteau-esque camp: Alden’s Partenope returns to ENO

Mark Valencia, 20th November

Christopher Alden’s Olivier Award-winning production of Handel’s Partenope returns to the Coliseum, but it's the singing that earns the plaudits.

****1

Dead Man Walking at English National Opera: a superb execution

David Karlin, 1st November

Anneliese Miskimmon's ENO production of Jake Heggie and Terence McNally's tale of crime, repentance, compassion and redemption compels from start to finish.

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Comedy falls flat in ENO's season opening Cinderella

Mark Valencia, 27th September

Julia Burbach and her designer, Herbert Murauer, are defeated by the wide canyons of the Coliseum stage in their modern-dress Cinderella.

**111

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Musgrave's powerful depiction of a powerful woman at the mercy of male manipulation receives a strong staging from at ENO.

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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.

Muhly's Marnie fails to find the drama of Winston Graham's novel