Opera Now

Magic touch

Kimon Daltas

"Independent Opera was set up to provide a platform for young professionals in the UK, and give them stage experience where otherwise they would most likely be languishing as unused understudies.  Which, quality-wise, could have gone either way, except the artistic director here is Alessandro Talevi ... always a seemingly unstoppable ball of creative energy... "

"...the period instrument orchestra, skilfully conducted by Gary Cooper at the harpsichord ...  were consummate professionals who played with fluency and style...."

"It was a fine cast, led by the Orlando of  William Towers, one of the finest young countertenors around.  The supporting roles of Angelica (Rebecca Ryan), Medoro (Christopher Ainslie) and Dorinda (Joana Seara) were charming on stage as well as beautifully sung.  Nicholas Warden's Zoroastro deserves a special mention, since he was the only one who had to conjure up the gravitas of old age, and he came across as an amiable and playful magus, though his rich and agile bass left no doubt as to his authority..."

"...Zoroastro would have nothing to conjure at all if it wasn't for the joint efforts of Rachel Nicholson (lighting design), Dick Straker & Finn Ross (video design) and Michael Fowkes & Chiara Ambrosio (puppetry and shadow animation).  These elements, and Talevi's amalgamation of them, brought life, colour, excitement and, of course, magic, to the simple staging.  Cordelia Chisholm's costumes, in particular Orlando's post-apocalyptic armour and shield, added further to a visually compelling production."

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