Arts OPERA REVIEW: Rigoletto @ ENO A tragic story of jealousy, vengeance and sacrifice, Rigoletto is one of Verdi’s most popular operas. Jonathan Miller’s much-loved ‘Mafia’ production makes a welcome return to the ENO stage, relocating the action to New York’s Little Italy in the 1950s with a tightly cut ‘ Mad men’ swagger to the co By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: Lulu: ENO Considered to be one of the seminal operas of the twentieth century, Berg’s score creates a unique sound world that combines his lyrical gifts with powerful orchestral writing. A gritty exploration of sexual desire, it follows the downfall of the enigmatic Lulu, who shatters the lives of her many lo By Eric Page • 5 min read
Arts REVIEW: The Magic Flute: ENO Mark Wigglesworth as conductor was an utter delight, he pulls and throws the music around the auditorium with all the playfulness and artfulness that it demands, with the orchestra raised up over the pit and part of the action, and with some of the players taking part in the staging this was a near By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts REVIEW: The Mikado: ENO Set in an ever-so English 1930s seaside hotel, bleached white with privilege and wealth Jonathan Miller’s Marx Brothers-inspired song-and-dance Mikado is a popular hit with audiences of all ages. A distant picture of Hokusai’s Great Wave off Kanagawa is one of the only gentle echos of this operettas By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts REVIEW: The Force of Destiny: ENO While not perfect this new ENO production is an exciting, challenging and interesting night out with quality singing and a sumptuous orchestral score, director Bieito has done bloody well to get so much out of this difficult Verdi epic. By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts REVIEW: La bohème: ENO This was thoroughly modern Mandy driven Mimi and it worked for me and for the rest of the audience, the full house loved it, being very generous with their cheers and applause. By Eric Page • 5 min read
Arts REVIEW: Barber Of Seville: ENO This was a fun and enjoyable night out at the ENO, full of laughter and delightful performances. I’d recommend this production for a first timer as it will leave you humming and smiling all the way home. By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts REVIEW: Lady Macbeth Of Mtsensk: ENO Famously damned by Pravda, supposedly on Stalin’s say so as ‘muddle rather than music’ Shostakovich’s opera was premiered in 1934 and the public loved the merciless parody heaving with lust, sex, violence, corruption and the spearing of male power. By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: The Pirates of Penzance: ENO This highly anticipated swashbuckling farce with its new staging is directed by Mike (I’ll never direct an opera) Leigh, who made his operatic debut this evening. I liked his version, all geometric sets and ultra-simplistic colours from Alison Chitty, they worked well, softly gliding and sliding int By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: The Indian Queen In this vibrant production, devised by acclaimed director Peter Sellars, the rich and transcendent score of Purcell’s final unfinished opera is reworked around a new text and the inclusion of a number of Purcell’s most ravishing religious anthems. This new retelling of The Indian Queen recounts the By Eric Page • 5 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: La traviata I was totally absorbed by its headlong rush into tragedy and the singing and music was of astonishing quality. Overall a music triumph, but with a confusing narrative, but a rich lush evening none the less. By Eric Page • 4 min read
Arts OPERA REVIEW: The Gospel According to the Other Mary This is something new, modern but accessible, understandable and moving. I would highly recommend this engaging production by the ENO, and if the music bores you a little, you can always float away with Banks and his vibrant, rhythmic angelic crumping or allow the chorus to astonish you. By Eric Page • 5 min read
