Robin Hood: a satirical new opera in Peckham

By Timmy Fisher, 28 February 2019

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“Each character is given a distinct a melodic flavour to match their particular brand of hypocrisy”

Reviewed at CLF Art Cafe, Bussey Building, London on 27 February 2019

Howard, Robin Hood (Based on an original libretto by Zoe Palmer and Rebecca Hurst)

The Opera Story

Berrak Dyer, Conductor

Polly Graham, Director

April Dalton, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Nicholas Merryweather, Robin Hood

Siân Cameron, Marian

Oliver Brignall, Little John

Lorna Anderson, Joanna

Cliff Zammit Stevens, Will Scarlett

Dorman’s Wahnfried receives its UK premiere at Longborough

Mark Pullinger, 27th May

Longborough Festival Opera, built on Wagnerian foundations, stages the UK premiere of Avner Dorman’s ambitious cautionary tale about the Wagner clan and establishing the composer’s legacy.

***11

Back to the Bard: Longborough's Fairy Queen

Roy Westbrook, 29th July

Polly Graham's production turns semi-opera into “three-quarters opera”, to good effect.

***11

A feminist makeover for Così fan tutte at Irish National Opera

Andrew Larkin, 23rd May

Polly Graham's take on Mozart's Così fan tutte is full of humour and political commentary, while the singing is a joy to hear.

***11

Bitter wine: WNO's Le Vin herbé

Mark Pullinger, 21st March

Frank Martin’s Le Vin herbé is as anti-Wagnerian a work as you could imagine. It is also the odd one out in Welsh National Opera’s “Love’s Poisoned Chalice” spring season.

***11

Simply brilliant: Simplicius Simplicissimus

Matthew Rye, 11th November

The first UK production of Karl Amadeus Hartmann’s 1930s anti-war opera Simplicius Simplicissimus is a musical and dramatic triumph, and as pertinent as ever

*****

Viel Aufwand, wenig Drama: Olga Neuwirths Orlando

Snapdragon, 8th December

Die Welturaufführung ist weder konfrontativ noch bringt sie neue Einsichten: überdrüber und doch irgendwie daneben.

***11

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Timmy Fisher

Timmy read musicology at Durham University, studying composition with Richard Rijnvos. He has written for Gramophone and The Spectator, and composes for both film and the concert hall. He has a special interest in contemporary choral music, and co-hosts The Classical Music Pod with Sam Poppleton, available on iTunes and Spotify. Follow him on twitter at @timmy_fisher.