No rust on Glyndebourne’s classic The Rake’s Progress

Carole Wilson (Mother Goose), Thomas Atkins (Tom Rakewell), Sam Carl (Nick Shadow)

Thomas Atkins (Tom Rakewell), Louise Alder (Anne Trulove)

Rupert Charlesworth (Sellem)

Alisa Kolosova (Baba the Turk)

By Dominic Lowe, 06 August 2023

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“Hockney's etched sets ... still elicit gasps as the vibrant front cloth goes up”

Reviewed at Glyndebourne Opera House, Glyndebourne on 4 August 2023

Stravinsky, The Rake's Progress

Glyndebourne Festival Opera

Robin Ticciati, Conductor

John Cox, Director

David Hockney, Set Designer

Robert Bryan, Lighting Designer

London Philharmonic Orchestra

The Glyndebourne Chorus

Thomas Atkins, Tom Rakewell

Sam Carl, Nick Shadow

Louise Alder, Anne Trulove

Alisa Kolosova, Baba the Turk

Carole Wilson, Mother Goose

Ru Charlesworth, Sellem

A deli-cious revival of Rossini’s Il turco in Italia at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 23rd May

Mariame Clément’s production of Rossini's meta comedy is tightly revived with some excellent singing. Come for the writing tips, stay for the cured meats.

****1

Glyndebourne’s first Tosca: vocally strong but imperfect

David Karlin, 21st May

Ted Huffman brings some interesting ideas to his first Glyndebourne production. Excellent singing is let down by indifferent physical acting.

***11

Glyndebourne revives Michieletto’s Kátya Kabanová

Mark Valencia, 3rd August

Damiano Michieletto’s production of Janáček’s opera breaks a key tenet of high-concept opera: where it should reveal, it obfuscates.

***11

All the world’s a jest: Falstaff returns to Glyndebourne

Mark Pullinger, 23rd July

Richard Jones' 2009 production returns to Glyndebourne after a long absence, but the 1940s comedy scrubs up fresh.

***11

A strong new Figaro opens at Glyndebourne

Dominic Lowe, 29th June

Mariame Clément is a popular director at Glyndebourne, and her new production of Figaro shows her trademark approach to hardhitting comedy.

****1

Glyndebourne's Saul still packs a punch 10 years on

Nick Boston, 8th June

Returning from the original run, Christopher Purves and Iestyn Davies were joined by a strong cast and chorus for a revival of Barrie Kosky's striking production.

*****

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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.

No rust on this rake: a strong revival of Glyndebourne's classic The Rake's Progress