Singing triumphs: Monteverdi's Poppea, Hampstead Garden Opera

By Charlotte Valori, 17 May 2017

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Reviewed at Jacksons Lane Theatre, London on 12 May 2017

Monteverdi, L'incoronazione di Poppea, SV 308

HGO

Oliver-John Ruthven, Conductor

Simon Iorio, Director

Charlotte Levesley, Amore

Jenni Harper, Drusilla

Jessica Thayer, La Fortuna

Angelica Conner, La Virtù

Clara Fournillier, Poppea

Helen May, Valletto

Leslie Davis, Nerone

Eira Sjaastad-Huse, Ottavia

Stephanie Wake-Edwards, Arnalta

William Branston, Lucano, Liberto, Littore

Benjamin Shilperoort, Seneca

Collin Shay, Ottone

Musica Poetica

A heartening return to live opera at Highgate's Lauderdale House

Timmy Fisher, 13th August

HGO's production of Holst's Sāvitri is a smart choice for a socially distant era. But why mess with a winning formula?

***11

HGO serve up a treat with La bohème redux

David Karlin, 9th November

La bohème may not seem the obvious choice for a very small theatre, but HGO carry it off with aplomb, with the help of Rodolfo sung by a star in the making.

****1

Tragic tears of a clown: Cav and Pag at Hampstead Garden Opera

David Karlin, 14th May

Benjie del Rosario ignites a thrilling Pagliacci, while Cavalleria rusticana is potentially as good but marred by intelligibility and balance issues.

****1

The very model of a modern sexual opportunist

Charlotte Valori, 15th November

A brilliant modern revisioning by Genevieve Raghu, in a superb contemporary translation by Benjamin Hamilton, makes Don Giovanni feel more relevant than ever for the Tinder generation and their disposable approach to love.

****1

Slick and contemporary: HGO's Xerses

Nahoko Gotoh, 26th April

Hampstead Garden Opera’s new staging of Xerxes is slick and contemporary with a well thought-out re-interpretation of the plot, offering a fresh perspective to the opera.

****1

Hilarity with a sharp edge: Albert Herring

David Karlin, 15th November

Excellent ensemble work makes for a compelling rendering of Britten's satirical chamber opera Albert Herring, with some impressive young tenor and baritone voices.

***11

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Charlotte Valori

Charlotte Valori read Classics at Christ Church, Oxford. As a classicist, her main interest is Greek tragedy and its reception by later cultures, which has led to a continuing passion for theatre and opera. Charlotte reviews for several online magazines, and won the Bachtrack Opera Award 2015 for Best Written English Review. Follow her on Twitter @operissima.