Starring Gerald Finley
Written by Tchaikovsky, libretto adapted from Pushkin's poem, translated into English
At English National Opera.
A wonderful night out.
The papers had said, Go to see this for Gerald Finley, which is the main reason I booked the ticket. But, good as he is, he was not the only reason to enjoy it. Most of the rest of the cast was serviceablly competent but generic. I did not take to the tenor playing Lensky - Gwyn Hughes Jones, although I will say he did a creditable rendition of Lensky's Aria. Catrin Wyn-Davies (Tatyana)was particularly impressive and melodramatic in her 'mad scene'.
The production was sumptious, especially in the 'crowd scenes' - there were three in total. The dancers were as worth seeing as the singers. The duel scene was very moving. It's not an opera I know very well* but I thoroughly enjoyed the music. And The Royal Opera are putting it on next season with Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Rolando Villazon and Amanda Roocroft.
Gerald Finley will be on the radio on Tuesday. A bit of googling finds a recent interview with him, brief biography, profile and I'm not the only blogger who's a fan...
Next season he's appearing as the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro at Covent Garden and I've already booked for him in Beethoven's Ninth next April. A couple of lunchtime concerts at Wigmore Hall, with only limited tickets available.
* ie not at all, really
