Wilson and the OAE return a “not guilty” verdict

By Benjamin Poore, 20 April 2019

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“presented with the scantest of staging but with oodles of class”

Reviewed at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London on 18 April 2019

Sullivan, The Gondoliers: Overture

Sullivan, The Yeomen of the Guard: Is Life A Boon

Sullivan, The Pirates of Penzance: Climbing over Rocky Mountains

Sullivan, Princess Ida: Minerva (Oh Goddess Wise)

Sullivan, Iolanthe: Overture

Sullivan, The Mikado: As some day it may happen

Sullivan, HMS Pinafore: Never mind the why and wherefore

Sullivan, Ruddigore: Painted Emblems of a Race

Sullivan, Ruddigore: When the night howls

Sullivan, HMS Pinafore: When I was a lad

Sullivan, The Gondoliers: Once more, Gondolieri

Sullivan, Trial by Jury

John Wilson, Conductor

Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Louise Alder, Soprano

Robert Murray, Tenor

Simon Butteriss, Baritone

Michael Craddock, Bass

Simon Bailey, Bass

Choir of the Age of Enlightenment

Mixed Mozart from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Dominic Lowe, 26th February

A Mozart's of symphonies – his last – under conductor Robin Ticciati is capped with a fine Jupiter, but is let down by the performances of its two predecessors.

***11

John Butt and the OAE celebrate Handel's Solomon

Roy Westbrook, 12th October

The Queen of Sheba is clearly in a hurry in this account of Handel's oratorio at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

*****

Enescu Festival immersion: Bach on the street, Klimt in the forest

Peter Quantrill, 11th September

At the George Enescu International Festival, a pair of new shows crossing genres and reinventing the classics, with mostly enlightening results.

****1

Brandstrup Breaking Bach with the OAE at EIF

Kathy Elgin, 20th August

Kim Brandstrup choreographs Bach favourites based on hip hop and street dance. Lie back on the bean bags at Usher Hall and enjoy...

****1

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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Benjamin Poore

Benjamin Poore is a writer and critic. His book on psychoanalysis and literature is forthcoming in 2019. He has previously written about literature and culture for the Independent, the Times Literary Supplement, and Times Higher Education. In his spare time he tries to sing Schubert; he has a very patient teacher.

Silence in Court! John Wilson and the OAE return a “not guilty” verdict