Ariadne Auf Naxos

My previous experience of Ariadne Auf Naxos was the Victorian Opera production in 2009, which was very impressive. It is not the sort of opera one would expect from a semi-professional company like CitiOpera.

However, they did a surprisingly creditable job.

A lot of this was due to the conducting of David Kram, who coaxed a full Straussian sound from the small orchestra. There was a lovely sweep to the music, but the singers were still able to be heard. Partly this was to do with the quality of the performers.

The title role was sung by Wendy Grose, whose big, beautiful voice was well suited to this demanding role. Equally impressive was mezzo Kristen Leich as the Composer, another difficult role.

The most challenging role is that of the coloratura Zerbinetta, with a fiendish tessitura.

Young Tamzyn Alexander coped with ease and was very impressive. Henry Choo was a strong Bacchus.

With a large cast required this standard was not maintained in smaller roles, but Rafael Wong, Michael Lampard and Karen Van Spall impressed.

On the small stage, projections were used effectively, but there was a lot of static singing.

But it was the music and singing people came to hear, and they were not disappointed.

Graham Ford