Don Pasquale was the first thing I saw in the new season at the Royal Opera. Don't know what it was - a Sunday evening performance? The Royal Opera was on tour in East Asia? The not-so-fresh doll house design? Or the Donizetti score? But it really didn't do it for me. I found myself getting bored. Hmm ... not a good start to the season.
This was the first revival of George Benjamin's Written On Skin. As with contemporary operas, familiarity goes a long way in appreciating the work. In this revival, I found Christopher Purves's The Protector powerful and moving. Barbara Hannigan, who sang Agnès, was superb. The pure and slightly eerie tone of Iestyn Davies as The Boy completed the perfect cast.
Comments
Post a Comment