The English Touring Opera, ‘the leading touring opera company in the UK’, are currently performing three productions, including Giuseppe Verdi’s Macbeth. Verdi’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s play premiered in Florence, 1847; a revised version was then first performed in Paris in 1865. Having never read Macbeth (I know, I know) or even heard of Verdi (classical…
Arts
Review: Cendrillon at the Norwich Theatre Royal
The renowned opera house Glyndebourne is currently touring Cendrillon (Cinderella), a French opera that saw its premiere performance in 1899, Paris. Having wanted to go to an opera for some time, and due to the fact I’m learning, slowly but surely, to speak French, I was quick to take up the opportunity to review Cendrillon…
Arts
Review: La Traviata at the Norwich Theatre Royal
Don’t be scared. Yes, the title says ‘Opera’ with some Italian name, but no, that does not mean it’s too high culture for you. In fact, Glyndebourne’s production of La Traviata at the Norwich Theatre Royal is about as accessible as they come. Romance. Breakups. Affairs. Deathly illnesses. Parties. Sounds about right for a melodramatic…
Arts
The Marriage of Figaro “ended any assumption that opera is still exclusive to the upper classes”
For their opening night at Norwich’s Theatre Royal, the English Touring Opera delivered a refreshingly clear interpretation of Mozart’s much-loved opera, The Marriage of Figaro. As someone who was relatively new to the world of opera, I found the performance surprisingly accessible, as well as genuinely funny, at points leading me to laugh aloud. Fortunately,…
Arts, OldVenue
Wild Thing: Review of Donizetti’s Wild Man of the West Indies
Wednesday night’s performance by the English Touring Opera at Norwich Theatre Royal probably inspired mixed opinions. I had a few reservations which I mentally noted as I watched it, but overall had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. During the bus journey back, however, as I fell into conversation with a fellow audience member who clearly –…
Arts, OldVenue
Garrets and Cafés: La Bohème at Norwich Theatre Royal
A broad, two-way-mirrored board dominates the stage. It stands, at something close to a forty-five degree angle, with a window in its centre, through which moonlight floats down into the garret occupied by the poet Rodolfo (David Butt Philip) and his friend the painter Marcello (Grant Doyle). Aside from this, there are a few boxes,…
Arts, OldVenue
Shall we go wild? Donizetti Opera piece comes to Norwich
Naples, 11th May, 1834. A wave of gossip is careering through the city, widening eyes and animating tongues, and for a fortnight, the craze possesses the chattering classes. The reason? Donizetti’s opera Il furioso all’isola di San Domingo (The Madman of the Island of San Domingo), or, as the English Touring Opera is bringing it…
Arts
The Rape of Lucretia – review
Arts writer Sophie Peters reviews Fiona Shaw’s direction of The Rape of Lucretia.
Arts, OldVenue
Review: Don Pasquale
Hannah Thomson reviews the Norwich leg of the Glyndebourne tour.
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