Glyndebourne's Saul still packs a punch 10 years on

Iestyn Davies (David)

Christopher Purves (Saul) and Linard Vrielink (Jonathan)

Christopher Purves (Saul) and Ru Charlesworth (Witch of Endor)

By Nick Boston, 09 June 2025

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“The chorus were on tremendous form, and there is a lot for them to do”

Reviewed at Glyndebourne Opera House, Glyndebourne on 8 June 2025

Handel, Saul

Glyndebourne Festival Opera

Jonathan Cohen, Conductor

Barrie Kosky, Director

Katrin Lea Tag, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Joachim Klein, Lighting Designer

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

The Glyndebourne Chorus

Christopher Purves, Saul

Iestyn Davies, David

Sarah Brady, Merab

Soraya Mafi, Michal

Linard Vrielink, Jonathan

Liam Bonthrone, Abner

Ru Charlesworth, Witch of Endor

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

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.

*****

Philosophy trumps passion in Glyndebourne’s Tristan

Dominic Lowe, 29th July

Magnificent conducting from Robin Ticciati and fine singers make Glyndebourne's latest revival of Lehnhoff’s production musically rewarding, but cerebral philosophical elevation overpowers the earthy reality of lust and love.

***11

More reviews...

Nick Boston

Nick has an MA in Music, specialising in performance and repertoire. His particular passions are choral music, chamber music and opera, with a particular interest in early music. He sings in a number of choirs in the south east of England, plays the piano and occasionally dusts off the violin. He writes about music here.