INDEPENDENT OPERA at Sadler's Wells

The Sofa and The Departure

Reviews

musicOMH.com

The Sofa/The Departure

by Simon Thomas

‘…The talented young artists of this year’s Independent Opera production at Sadler’s Wells brought an abundance of energy to Elizabeth Maconchy’s already exuberant operatic writing…’

‘…Louise Poole gave a strong performance as Julia [in The Departure] and it was easy to see why Håkan Vramsmo had won the plum role of Mark in the two-hander. His rich baritone, reminiscent of the young Gerald Finley, gave the outstanding vocal performance of the evening…’

‘…The work of Independent Opera, and its Artist Support scheme, is certainly admirable, providing a showcase and ongoing support for [young] artists…’

‘…it was a very worthwhile revival and the proposed recording will be a valuable chance for others to sample this semi-forgotten music. The prospect of a chamber production of Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande from the company next year is a mouth-watering one…’