ROH: Alice's Adventures Underground

[Master Jacques]

Gerald Barry's Alice's Adventures Underground opera is receiving its first staging - though it has been done in concert - this week at Covent Garden, with two alternate casts in nine performances spread over the week between today (Monday 3rd) and Sunday 9th February. The "No.1" cast has the likes of Jennifer France, Nicky Spence and Robert Murray, conducted by Thomas Adès. The "No.2" cast features Claudia Boyle, Hilary Summers and Peter Tantsits, under Finnegan Downie Dear. The production is directed by Anthony Macdonald, in Victorian toy theatre style.

For me, this is much the most interesting production at ROH this season. There are a few tickets left for most performances.

[underthecountertenor]

I hadn't spotted the double casting. I have had to exchange my original tickets (Thursday at 7) for Saturday at 11.30, and I now see that I have the 'No. 2' cast. But a cast featuring the brilliantly funny Hilary Summers (who was in the Barbican concert performance in 2016, as was Peter Tantsits) and Sam Furness is fine by me. Greatly looking forward to it.

[Master Jacques]

Likewise looking forward to the 1.45pm show, also on Saturday: I was sorry that plumping for Nicky Spence and Jennifer France meant not getting to see Hilary Summers, so it's very much swings and roundabouts.

[alywin]

Thanks for reminding me of this: I'll have to see if I can squeeze it in. I heard an excerpt the other day on "In Tune" and it sounded great.

[Master Jacques]

Thanks for reminding me of this: I'll have to see if I can squeeze it in. I heard an excerpt the other day on "In Tune" and it sounded great.

It does sound good - I hope you can manage to see it (I think there are tickets left for most performances.)

[Master Jacques]

I hope others have enjoyed Alice as much as I did yesterday afternoon. It was everything I hoped, and more - fast, funny and utterly furious. Barry at his best. A terrifically vibrant production too, with Adès on top form in the pit and no weak links in the cast. Most to the point, the many children in the audience appeared to love the opera (though some parents looked a bit shell-shocked!)

I dare say that the Royal Opera have done themselves plenty of good with this show, from every point of view.

[underthecountertenor]

I hope others have enjoyed Alice as much as I did yesterday afternoon. It was everything I hoped, and more - fast, funny and utterly furious. Barry at his best. A terrifically vibrant production too, with Adès on top form in the pit and no weak links in the cast. Most to the point, the many children in the audience appeared to love the opera (though some parents looked a bit shell-shocked!)

I dare say that the Royal Opera have done themselves plenty of good with this show, from every point of view.

I enjoyed it greatly (reverted to seeing it on Thursday at 7, so Adès was in the pit). I agree with everything you say. I was amused to see that Rupert Christiansen not only hated it (as one might have predicted) but presumed to be able to guess the reaction of children to the show. A less childlike (though very often childish) critic would be hard to imagine.

[Oakapple]

Most to the point, the many children in the audience appeared to love the opera.

A review in the Spectator said that in the few moments when the music was quiet you could hear the crying of many children.