Such is the sensitive nature of the topic at the centre of Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia (1945-6, revised 1947) that it is couched more as a worthy historical narrative, than an intensely wrought domestic drama such as Othello. That seems to account for the somewhat outdated tone of some of the libretto with its platitudes and its …
Those who reach the final curtain of Verdi’s late masterpiece and feel emotionally drained will have witnessed something remarkable. Those unmoved by their encounter may feel emotionally short-changed. Such was my experience after the opening night of Keith Warner’s Otello, now in its second revival. Boris Kudlička’s minimalist sets mostly involve low-budget panels perforated by irregular slits …
What makes Swan Lake still the most famous and most popular ballet? The answer lies in one word: poetry. The Royal Ballet’s current production is written in prose. It is by the late Liam Scarlett whose untimely death in April 2021 shocked and saddened the ballet world; the opening night of this revival certainly provoked …
It has only taken three centuries for a Vivaldi opera to be presented at Covent Garden! But it has been worth the wait. The subject matter of this debut will be relatively well-known, however, from Handel’s Tamerlano (1724), as it covers (or rather, adapts) the same episode in Middle Eastern history and is based on the same …
Judging from the number of performances of Theodora in recent times, including staged productions, this has become one of Handel’s most respected oratorios (‘popular’ would be too glib a word for so serious a work) – probably due more to its theme of persecution and freedom of conscience and belief, than the psychology and experience …
The Royal Opera House is excited to share early plans for its 2021/22 Season, the first full Royal Opera House Season since 2019. Today we reveal highlights including five world premieres from The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera as well as a wealth of British and international talent taking to our stages in the …
The Royal Opera House reveals highlights of its first full Season since 2019 Read More »
