Glimmering Respighi, sparkling Dukas, a murky Il tabarro

Sir Mark Elder

Annunzuata Vestri (La Frugola), Simon Shibambu (Talpa), Alasdair Elliott (Tinca)

Lucio Gallo (Michele), Natalya Romaniw (Giorgetta)

By Dominic Lowe, 01 August 2022

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“a gleaming string frenzy which descended into crepuscular quietude”

Reviewed at Royal Albert Hall, London on 30 July 2022

Dukas, The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Respighi, Fontane di Roma (Fountains of Rome)

Puccini, Il tabarro (concert performance; sung in Italian, with English surtitles)

Sir Mark Elder, Conductor

The Hallé

Philharmonia Voices

Lucio Gallo, Michele

Natalya Romaniw, Giorgetta

Adam Smith, Luigi

Annunziata Vestri, La Frugola

Alasdair Elliott, Tinca

Simon Shibambu, Talpa

Shengzhi Ren, Un venditore di canzonette (a song vendor)

Laura Perešivana, A lover (soprano)

Ryan Vaughan Davies, A lover (tenor)

Richard Jones’ clunky Samson et Dalila returns to Covent Garden

Dominic Lowe, 13th May

With Aigul Akhmetshina and Seokjong Baek in the title roles, there are reasons to be optimistic, but The Royal Opera’s revival of Richard Jones’ production is a mixed bag.

***11

Reality television: ENO’s Angel’s Bone in Manchester

Lawrence Dunn, 12th May

Kip Williams and ENO mount an extraordinary new production of Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s multifaceted opera, with performances of great emotional directness broadcast live on camera.

*****

Sir Thomas Allen’s Figaro for Scottish Opera still entertains

David Smythe, 9th May

A traditional Marriage of Figaro entertains with a strong cast, eye-catching design and lighting, and Amanda Holden’s earthy libretto.

****1

Sasha Cooke brings sharp intelligence to Seattle Opera’s Carmen

Thomas May, 8th May

Sasha Cooke’s thoughtful role debut anchors Paul Curran’s visually and musically alert but dramatically uneven production.

****1

Rossini’s Cenerentola proves great fun in Adelaide

Sandra Bowdler, 7th May

Neil Armfield’s production for State Opera South Australia combines a sparkling night of entertainment with first class musical values.

****1

Werther oozes quiet despair in new Canadian Opera Company staging

John Gilks, 7th May

Excellent performances cannot turn a conventional production of Massenet’s Werther into a dramatic experience for the 21st century.

***11

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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.

Troubled Waters: glimmering Respighi and sparkling Dukas precede a murky Il tabarro