Saint-Saëns rarity Henry VIII takes the crown at Bard SummerScape

Amanda Woodbury (Catherine of Aragon) and Alfred Walker (Henry VIII)

Lindsay Ammann (Anne Boleyn) and Alfred Walker (Henry VIII)

Alfred Walker (Henry VIII) with the Bard Festival Chorale

Josh Lovell (Don Gómez de Feria), Harold Wilson (Duke of Norfolk) and ensemble

By Cameron Kelsall, 22 July 2023

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“the work satisfies with thrilling ensembles and deeply drawn characters”

Reviewed at Richard B Fisher Center for the Performing Arts: Sosnoff Theater, Annandale-on-Hudson on 21 July 2023

Saint-Saëns, Henry VIII

SummerScape Opera

Leon Botstein, Conductor

Jean-Romain Vesperini, Director

American Symphony Orchestra

Alfred Walker, Henry VIII

Amanda Woodbury, Catherine of Aragon

Lindsay Ammann, Anne Boleyn

Josh Lovell, Don Gomez de Feria

Christian Zaremba, Cardinal Campeggio

Harold Wilson, Duke of Norkfolk

Rodell Rosel, Earl of Surrey

Alaysha Fox, Lady Clarence

Kevin Thompson, Archbishop Cranmer

Aaron Blake, Tenor

Almost rescued from tyranny: Smetena's Dalibor stuns at Bard

Robert Levine, 27th July

Bedřich Smetana’s patriotic opera Dalibor is given a rare outing at Bard College, directed by Jean-Romain Vesperini and conducted by Leon Botstein.

****1

Damning with faint praise: Berlioz at Bard

Cameron Kelsall, 18th August

As part of a festival considering the composer's oeuvre, Leon Botstein leads a concert performance of La Damnation de Faust lacking in French style.

**111

The fat knight sings in Bard Festival's Sir John in Love

Cameron Kelsall, 13th August

A two-week Ralph Vaughan Williams retrospective closed with his gentle, folksy spin on Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor.

***11

Strauss' Silent Woman makes a grand noise at Bard

Robert Levine, 24th July

Bard’s always courageous Music Director, Leon Botstein, never one to shy away from a challenge, presents Strauss' comedy uncut.

****1

Bard Musical Festival presents a thrilling Die tote Stadt

Cameron Kelsall, 18th August

American singers Clay Hilley and Sara Jakubiak offered performances of distinction in two fiendishly difficult roles.

****1

Das Wunder der Heliane makes long-awaited US debut

Cameron Kelsall, 28th July

Although Bard's production is only intermittently successful, the chance to hear this Korngold rarity live should be savored.

***11

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Cameron Kelsall

Cameron Kelsall is a classical music critic and cultural reporter. He has written for Bachtrack since 2019, and his byline has appeared in many national and international classical music publications. Based in Philadelphia, he regularly travels around the United States for musical events. In addition to his career in journalism, Cameron also teaches in the Theatre Arts program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a certified sommelier and avid home cook. His favorite composer is Mahler. Twitter: @CameronPKelsall.