Circus Days and Nights: Philip Glass takes opera to the big top

By Zenaida des Aubris, 31 May 2021

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Reviewed at Malmö Opera, Malmö on 29 May 2021

Glass, Circus Days and Nights

Malmö Opera

Minna Weurlander, Conductor, Accordion

Tilde Björfors, Director

Magdalena Åberg, Set Designer, Costume Designer

Ellen Ruge, Lighting Designer

Robert Hvenström, Lighting Designer

Elin Rombo, Lax F, the poet as a young man

Jakob Högström, Lax M, the old poet

Karolina Blixt, Ringmasters's wife

Lars Johansson Brissman, Bruno, the old circus artist

Susanna Stern, Julia Pastrana

Simon Wiborn, Ringmaster

Nikolas Pulka, Mogador, eldest son of the Cristianis

Aaron Hakala, Second son of the Cristianis

Andreas De Ryck, Youngest son of the Cristianis

Methinee Wongtrakoon, The orphan, a lion tamer

Peter Åberg, Enrico Rastelli, a circus artist

Beatriz Pantojo, Penelope

Pierrot-Pierre Heault, La Louisa

Viktor Nordliden, Cello

Inga Zeppezauer, Violin

Blagoj Lamnjov, Clarinet

Oscar Fransson, Trumpet

Martin Jönsson, Bass Trombone

Sigvald Fersum, Percussion

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Everything about this production is fresh and wonderful.

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Leonardo García-Alarcón's exhumation of Bembo's work proves a winner, in a hyper-quirky staging by Netia Jones with Julie Fuchs as the pick of the fine singers.

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Zenaida des Aubris

Zenaida des Aubris, based in Berlin, has over 30 years experience in artist management and production of classical music and opera in the United States, Europe and Asia. Currently, she offers consultation to music competitions and schools as well as to individual recent graduates on how to manage themselves and kickstart their careers through her company Opera Career Advice.

Circus Days and Nights: Philip Glass takes opera to the big top for world premiere in Malmö