Robert J. Farr

Carlo Rizzi’s conducting and WNO’s chorus make Les vêpres siciliennes a worthwhile experience

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Verdi, Les vêpres siciliennes: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / Carlo Rizzi (conductor). Theatre Cymru, Llandudno, 7.3.2020. (RJF)

WNO’s Les vêpres siciliennes (c) Johan Persson

Read moreCarlo Rizzi’s conducting and WNO’s chorus make Les vêpres siciliennes a worthwhile experience

Rare, abbreviated, yet superbly staged performance of Handel’s Giulio Cesare from Opera North

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Handel, Giulio Cesare in Egitto: Orchestra members of Opera North / Christian Curnyn (conductor). The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays. 12.11.2019. (RJF)

Heather Lowe (Sesto), James Laing (Tolomeo) and Darren Jeffery (Achilla)
(c) Alastair Muir

Read moreRare, abbreviated, yet superbly staged performance of Handel’s Giulio Cesare from Opera North

Renato Balsadonna conducts Opera North’s La bohème empathetically, but time this production was retired

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Puccini, La bohème: Orchestra and Chorus of Opera North / Renato Balsadonna (conductor). The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays. 12.11.2019. (RJF)

Eleazar Rodriguez (Rodolfo) & Lauren Fagan (Mimì) (c) Richard Hubert Smith

Read moreRenato Balsadonna conducts Opera North’s La bohème empathetically, but time this production was retired

Sizeable Llandudno audience rewarded with memorable performance of WNO’s Cunning Little Vixen

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Janáĉek, The Cunning Little Vixen (sung in Czech): Soloists, Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / Tomáš Hanus (conductor). Theatre Cymru, Llandudno, 31.10.2019

Aiofe Miskelly (Vixen) & Lucia Cervoni (Fox) (c) Richard Hubert Smith

Read moreSizeable Llandudno audience rewarded with memorable performance of WNO’s Cunning Little Vixen

Fine singing but Verdi’s seminal musical masterpiece deserves better than this WNO Rigoletto

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / Alexander Joel  (conductor). Theatre Cymru, Llandudno, 30.10.2019. (RJF)

Alastair Moore (Marullo) and Mark S. Doss (Rigoletto) (c) Richard Hubert Smith

Read moreFine singing but Verdi’s seminal musical masterpiece deserves better than this WNO Rigoletto

Tomáš Hanus’s conducting is a highlight of WNO’s new Carmen in Llandudno

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Bizet, Carmen: Soloists, Orchestra and Chorus of Welsh National Opera / Tomáš Hanus (conductor). Theatre Cymru, Llandudno, 29.10.2019. (RJF)

Benjamin Bevan, Harriet Eyley, Virginie Verrez, Joe Roche & Angela Simkin in Carmen
(c) Bill Cooper

Read moreTomáš Hanus’s conducting is a highlight of WNO’s new Carmen in Llandudno

Some Outstanding Singing Gives Pleasure in WNO’s Spidery Roberto Devereux

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United KingdomUnited Kingdom Donizetti, Roberto Devereux: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Welsh National Opera / James Southall (conductor). Theatre Cymru, Llandudno, 25.4.2019. (RJF)

Joyce El-Khoury (Elisabeth) & Barry Banks (Roberto Devereux) (c) Bill Cooper

Read moreSome Outstanding Singing Gives Pleasure in WNO’s Spidery Roberto Devereux