English Touring Opera - La Boheme

[Barbirollians]

Went to see this last night . They are a company transformed over the last few years from past it singers singing in English to vivid productions with excellent largely younger singers . Their production set at the time the piece was written is sharp and makes excellent use of one wall as a mirror . It was very well played , sung ,conducted and acted last night in Sheffield and is on tour.

I was particularly impressed by Francesca Chiejina as Mimi .

Highly recommended.

[kuligin]

And for those like me allergic to Puccini , can I strongly recommend their Golden Cockerel, excellent despite the naturally reduced orchestration, the production on a shoe string yet highly effective and in sympathy with the Opera.

A complete contrast to Opera Norths Alcina were “sustainable production” apparently means a few chairs on an empty stage , naturally thrown about in part 2.

[Barbirollians]

Kuligin’s comments on GC apply equally to the La Boheme production and orchestration. It enabled the harp to make a particularly telling contribution.