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Biblical spectacle: an eye-popping, heart-stopping Saul for Glyndebourne’s Tour

By Mark Pullinger, 28 October 2015
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“banqueting tables groaning with flowers, ripe fruit, stuffed peacocks and swans”
Reviewed at Glyndebourne Opera House, Glyndebourne on 27 October 2015
Programme
Handel, Saul
Performers
Glyndebourne Autumn
Laurence Cummings, Conductor
Barrie Kosky, Director
Katrin Lea Tag, Set Designer
Henry Waddington, Saul
Christopher Ainslie, David
Sarah Tynan, Merab
Anna Devin, Michal
Benjamin Hulett, Jonathan
Stuart Jackson, Abner, High Priest, Doeg
Colin Judson, Witch of Endor
Donna Stirrup, Revival Director
Glyndebourne Sinfonia
The Glyndebourne Chorus
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Mark-Anthony Turnage and Rachael Hewer update Edith Nesbit’s children's novel as a spy action thriller, with an exciting score and a strong cast of singers.
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Eleanor Knight, 12th October
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A revival of Mariame Clément's production of Rossini's less-loved comic gem provides the sense of Italian sun to warm the body and belly laughs to warm the soul.
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Confusion clouds any central critique in Clément's Don Giovanni
Nick Boston, 12th November
Strong musical performances in a flawed and confused production revived for the autumn season at Glyndebourne. 
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Another joyful return for Glyndebourne's fizzy Elisir d'amore
Nick Boston, 11th November
Strong solo and ensemble singing from a solid cast – with a last minute addition for Act 2 – make for a joyful revival of this much-loved production. 
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More reviews...
Read reviews of
Anna DevinBarrie KoskyBenjamin HulettChristopher AinslieColin JudsonDonna StirrupGeorge Frideric HandelGlyndebourne AutumnGlyndebourne SinfoniaHenry WaddingtonKatrin Lea TagLaurence CummingsSarah TynanSaulStuart JacksonThe Glyndebourne Chorus
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Mark Pullinger
Mark Pullinger
Mark has been a Bachtrack editor since 2014. He is also an experienced critic, writing hundreds of reviews for the site, as well as a freelancer writing for other magazines and newspapers. He also writes programme notes and blogs on Substack. Mark has a particular passion for the operas of Verdi as well as Russian and French repertoire. Outside the concert hall and opera house, Mark enjoys cooking and travel and is probably at his happiest let loose in a French patisserie or a Viennese coffee house.