Minimalist complexity: Flórez lights up ROH Orphée

By David Karlin, 15 September 2015

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“the total embodiment of the fury and anguish of untimely bereavement”

Reviewed at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London on 14 September 2015

Gluck, Orfeo ed Euridice (French version: Orphée et Eurydice)

The Royal Opera

Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Conductor

Hofesh Shechter, Director, Choreography

Conor Murphy, Set Designer

Juan Diego Flórez, Orfeo

Lucy Crowe, Euridice

Amanda Forsythe, Amore

Monteverdi Choir

English Baroque Soloists

Hofesh Shechter Company

John Fulljames, Director

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.

*****

Terfel’s craggy Boris Godunov returns to Covent Garden

Mark Pullinger, 29th January

The second revival of Richard Jones' staging of Mussorgsky's original 1869 version of Boris Godunov once again stars the Welsh knight.

****1

Ermonela Jaho returns in triumph to The Royal Opera’s Traviata

Mark Valencia, 8th January

Richard Eyre’s 32-year-old production is rarely out of The Royal Opera’s repertoire for more than a few months at a time, but this particular revival proves very special.

*****

Turandot drowned in an orchestral tsunami at The Royal Opera

David Karlin, 15th December

Andrei Șerban’s 40 year old take on Puccini's tale of the ice princess largely stands the test of time, but Netrebko and Eyvazov are short of their best form.

***11

Handel’s Ariodante returns home to Covent Garden

Roy Westbrook, 9th December

Jetske Mijnssen’s house debut sees Handel’s opera transposed to a modern-day palace, with Emily D'Angelo angelic in the title role.

****1

The Royal Opera stages its first Makropulos Case

Mark Valencia, 4th November

Katie Mitchell wheels out her tired old tropes in The Makropulos Case, redeemed by its musical performances.

***11

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David Karlin

David is a co-founder of Bachtrack. He is a musical omnivore interested in almost all types of music, but with a particular love of Italian opera. You can contact him from this link.

Minimalist complexity: Flórez lights up Orphée et Eurydice at Covent Garden