Mozart Archives - North West End UK

16Nov

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Opera North: The Magic Flute – Lowry

Opera North’s English Version of Mozart’s two-act opera hints at the fantasy but lacks the magic necessary for the classic fairy tale rescue of a princess by a handsome prince. Tamino (Egor Zhuravskii), a young prince, is being pursued by a terrible dragon and in his attempt to escape he passes out and is unknowingly saved by three mysterious Ladies (Charlie Drummond; Katie Sharpe; Hazel Croft). As they depart to alert the Queen of the Night (Naomi Quant) to his presence, Tamino regains consciousness only to meet another strange figure, that of Papageno (Emyr Wyn Jones), the bird catcher, who also works for the Queen, and deceitfully claims to have defeated the monster. He is punished when the three Ladies return by having his tongue sealed with a magic spell. Tamino is presented with a...

A Night at the Opera: Flat Pack Music Gala Concert – Chester Cathedral

14Oct

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

A Night at the Opera: Flat Pack Music Gala Concert – Chester Cathedral

Chester Cathedral is many things to many people: a vibrant community of worship, an ancient abbey, an archaeological treasure, a cultural hub, a centre of musical excellence and a unique blend of medieval and modern history. Flat Pack Music’s gala concert, A Night at the Opera, added another layer as we were taken through twenty-three operatic classics that gave everyone taking part the opportunity to shine: whether this was your first experience of opera or you’re a more seasoned pro, this production was an absolute treat. Featuring L’orchestra dell’Arte and joined by Mersey Wave Choir and the Runcorn Community Chorus this spectacular candle-lit evening served up five professional soloists: soprano Heather Buckmaster; tenor Joseph Buckmaster; baritone Matthew Durkan; mezzo-soprano Imog...

The Marriage of Figaro – Waterside Arts, Sale

15Jun

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

The Marriage of Figaro – Waterside Arts, Sale

Mozart’s satirical and deeply human four-act comic opera, an adaptation with Da Ponte of Beaumarchais’ banned 1778 play about warring masters and servants, is delightfully brought to life with Chris Gill’s English libretto translation entertainingly directed by Sarah Helsby-Hughes. As the day of Figaro (David Cane) and Susanna’s (Heather Buckmaster) wedding arrives, it becomes clear that the Count (Mike Dewis), is keen to exercise his ‘droit du seigneur’ – his right to bed a servant girl on her wedding night – and they conspire with the forsaken Countess (Helsby-Hughes), to outwit her husband and teach him a lesson in fidelity. Plans however are thrown awry when Bartolo (Matthew Baldwin), seeking revenge against Figaro for thwarting his own earlier plans to marry the Countess, tries to ...

22Mar

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Opera North: Cosi fan tutte – The Lowry

As the programme notes, Mozart is one of those rare creative beings who comes to disturb the sleep of the world., and certainly mischief and misunderstandings are everywhere in this revived adaptation in English of Mozart’s famous two-act comic opera, and on the whole this good-humoured production from Director Tim Albery does not disappoint. The story begins with an old cynic and philosopher, Don Alfonso (Quirijn de Lang), betting two young soldiers, Ferrando (Anthony Gregory) and Guglielmo (Henry Neill), that their respective fiancées, sisters Dorabella (Heather Lowe) and Fiordiligi (Alexandra Lowe) will not stay faithful if put to the test. The two young men accept the bet and pretend to depart for the front line whilst secretly returning in disguise and under the direction of Don Al...

Mozart, Made in Manchester – The Stoller Hall, Manchester

8Oct

By Adam WilliamsNo Comments

North West

Mozart, Made in Manchester – The Stoller Hall, Manchester

It goes without saying that Mozart was a genius, the ultimate prodigious talent who could pick out tunes on the piano at the age of three and at four or five years old had started composing his first pieces of music. This concert was a celebration of the early Mozart and all the pieces played were composed before he was 15 years old. To think that this sublime music came from the pen of a teenager is amazing. The orchestra performed the overtures from Apollo et Hyacinthus and Bastien und Bastienne as well as the first four piano concertos. Conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy was an entertaining guide not just to the music but to the role of the conductor. He admitted he “talked too much” in rehearsal and his effusive love and passion for the music was clear and contagious. In an interesti...

Don Giovanni – The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

22May

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

REVIEWS

Don Giovanni – The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD

Mozart’s retelling of the Don Juan myth dates from 1787 and its tale of a serial, sexual predator sadly remains far too relevant some 235 years later. Don Giovanni (Peter Mattei) has seduced some 1,800 women, all catalogued by servant Leporello (Adam Plachetka), and he is looking to add another name with his attempted rape of Donna Anna (Federica Lombardi) that results in him killing her father, the Commendatore (Alexander Tsymbalyuk), and which her fiancé Don Ottavio (Ben Bliss) swears to revenge. Donna Elvira (Ana Maria Martinez), an earlier conquest, has come in search of Don Giovanni, although he is now trying to seduce peasant girl Zerlina (Ying Fang) on her wedding day to Masetto (Alfred Walker) and later attempts to rape her at his party. The next day, Giovanni forces Lepor...

Mozart’s Requiem – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

19Feb

By Ezzy LaBelleNo Comments

North West

Mozart’s Requiem – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Transporting the audience back to 18th Century Vienna, Mozart's Requiem does not disappoint. The orchestra, conducted by Award-winning German conductor Corinna Niemeyer, was complemented by appearances from Victoria Randem (soprano), Eléonore Pancrazi (mezzo-soprano), Stuart Jackson (tenor) and Benjamin Appl (baritone). The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir were in full, lively voice. Opening with Haydn's Symphony No.49, La Passione, the concert began as it meant to go on. Niemeyer animatedly gesticulated at the front to lead the orchestra through the allegro piece, paying particular attention to the contrasts between loud and quiet, light and dark. Haydn's work is written in the 'storm and urge' style with a somewhat unusual structure for the time. All four movements are in F minor...

6May

By Mark DavorenNo Comments

North West

Don Giovanni –Liverpool Empire

Welsh National Opera return to Liverpool Empire with this revival by Caroline Chaney of John Caird’s 2011 production of one of Mozart’s most complete operas, and incorporating John Napier’s original brutalist staging, inspired apparently by Rodin’s The Gates of Hell. Don Giovanni (Aaron O’Hare – a last-minute replacement due to cast indisposition) has seduced over 2,000 women, all catalogued by servant Leporello (Joshua Bloom), and our story starts with him looking to add another name with his attempted rape of Donna Anna (Linda Richardson) that results in him killing her father, the Commendatore (James Platt), and which her fiancé Don Ottavio (Trystan Llŷr Griffiths) swears to revenge. Donna Elvira (Meeta Raval), an earlier conquest who believes Giovanni to be her husband, has come ...