A tender Shakespeare-inspired curio from English Touring Opera

Alys Mererid Roberts

Samuel Pantcheff, Alys Mererid Roberts, Tamsanqa Tylor Lamani and Emily Hodkinson

Tamsanqa Tylor Lamani and Emily Hodkinson

What Dreams May Come

By Susannah Moody, 20 February 2025

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“staggeringly poignant”

Reviewed at New Diorama Theatre, London on 15 February 2025

Programme to include:

Purcell, The Fairy Queen Z 629: excerpts

Works by Finzi

Works by Britten

Works by Schubert

Valentina Ceschi, Director

Matt Hutchinson, Puppetry Designer

Peter Harrison, Lighting Designer

Erika Gundesen, Conductor, Piano

Alys Mererid Roberts, Soprano

Emily Hodkinson, Mezzo-soprano

Tamsanqa Tylor Lamani, Tenor

Samuel Pantcheff, Baritone

English Touring Opera

Art imitates art in ETO’s bracing new Pagliacci

Dominic Lowe, 10th April

Divorced from Cavalleria rusticana, English Touring Opera’s contemporary take on Leoncavallo’s masterpiece ticks all the boxes.

****1

English Touring Opera transfers Donizetti to the English coast

Dominic Lowe, 27th September

L'elisir d'amore may not immediately bring Skegness or Romney to mind, but ETO's new production works quite well there... just look out for the seagulls!

***11

Blissful and hard-boiled: I Capuleti e i Montecchi at ETO

David Karlin, 22nd February

Eloise Lally shifts the Romeo and Juliet love story into New York mafia families. Jessica Cale and Samantha Price provide blissful bel canto as the star-crossed lovers.

****1

Theatrically poverty-stricken: ETO's Blond Eckbert

Mark Valencia, 18th October

Judith Weir's cryptic folk opera lacks the narrative propulsion necessary to enthral an audience, and without resolution there is no catharsis.

**111

ETO's The Snowmaiden melts the heart and gladdens the ears

Dominic Lowe, 28th September

Olivia Fuchs' production of Rimsky-Korsakov's charming fable for ETO begins its tour in Hackney and is worth travelling to see. Catch this thoughtful production in a town near you.

****1

ETO opens spring tour with an off-the-wall Manon Lescaut

Mark Valencia, 24th February

Jude Christian's indulgent reinvention of Puccini's opera does not serve English Touring Opera well as it embarks on its spring tour.

**111

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Susannah Moody

A London-based journalist and ex-lawyer, Susannah will cheerfully listen to most styles of music. Having trained as an operatic soprano through school and university, she has worked for several opera companies and set up a student opera company where she translated, directed and performed in productions including flash mob opera. Most recently she took part in the ENO Response programme reviewing the company's 2022-2023 season. She also writes about food as The Moody Foodie.