Reviews

The Abduction from the Seraglio

'Things are similarly impressive vocally, with Kiandra Howarth on full throttle as Konstanze, one of Mozart’s most challenging coloratura roles. Her voice has edge, range and substance to spare, and while her volume and brilliance brook no opposition and some articulation is flattened out at the top of her voice, her performance is all part of Konstanze’s imperious and morally unassailable bearing'

Classical Source

'But Copley’s production is good fun and plays it by the book, so we actually get Osmin up a tree, picking figs, just as the libretto tells us'

bachtrack

'Making stronger impressions are bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu as a grand-scale Osmin who savours the comic possibilities of his role, and actor Alexander Andreou in the spoken role of Pasha Selim – a character to whom he brings considerable humanity and dignity'

The Stage

'Kiandra Howarth sang as fine a Konstanze as I have heard, Christine Schäfer included, coloratura clear and meaningful, line finely spun. Humanity breathed into her character was Mozart’s - yet hers too'

Opera Today

Dance@TheGrange

'Rigorous classical technique underpinned the contemporary stylings; McGregor’s company dancers brought a surging energy, buoying up jewel-like moments from the RB stars – Soares borne aloft, Hayward whipping through the air with fierce determination; an oh-so-delicate Stix-Brunell. It was a fittingly grand finale for this first foray to the country.'

DanceTabs

The Barber of Seville

'There have been some brilliant productions of Il Barbiere di Siviglia , but this one beats them all … by a whisker!'

Mark Aspen Reviews

'This was a busily engaging performance, breaking no new ground but drawing strong performances out of the cast to ensure that the wit and musical brilliance of Rossini's opera came over'

Planet Hugill

'Charles Rice as Figaro is a charismatic presence right from his famous first aria, while David Soar as the heavyweight Don Basilio also boasts impressive talent.'

The Stage

'With an excellent performance from the chorus and a vivid, effervescent sound from the Bournemouth Symphony under the baton of eminent Rossinian David Parry, this was a corker of an evening – one to catch if at all possible.'

bachtrack

Agrippina

'In all it’s a terrific show, and the only Handel production I’ve ever seen which obeys the old showbiz principle: leave your audience wanting more.'

The Telegraph

'this is classy, provocative entertainment, and hugely enjoyable.'

The Guardian

'Walter Sutcliffe’s production trades in the thrills and spills, deceptions, seductions, and revelations, cutting out the recitatives so that the whole thing rushes along as if there’s no tomorrow.'

The Independent

'Its glorious music, political satire and imaginative staging make this an absolute must-see production.'

bachtrack

'There is nothing to equal the collaboration of real experts in their field, as The Grange Festival has demonstrated yet again with this stunning Agrippina'

musicOMH

'Walter Sutcliffe's production of the baroque opera is lively, entertaining and fun'

The Stage

'A production such as this breathes new life into Baroque opera, showing to those open-minded enough to see it, how such works can still excite attention and pleasure.'

Classical Source

'This cracking production, with its gripping mix of sex, power, schemes, politics, lies, lust and love, could have been written for the box-set age'

The Times

'Anna Bonitatibus richly captures the role of ruthless mother'

The Express

'As the opening offering of its second opera season, this is stuff that will propel The Grange Festival to the top.'

Mark Aspen Reviews

The Grange Festival International Singing Competition 2017

'We were blessed with six young singers all at the start of successful careers and all capable of making the audience feel that they would wish to be nowhere else in the world at that moment than listening and watching them'

Opera Now

'For my own part, I am glad that other people were on the jury, because all the artists brought something special to the afternoon.'

Planet Hugill

'Compulsory Handel Aria in every selection? Now thats my kind of singing competition.'

musicOMH

Mansfield Park

'David Parry drove this sparkling score forward with ease and drew polished playing from members of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Trinity Laban'

Bachtrack

'a finely crafted, instantly attractive opera'

Classical Source

'Personality oozes from Sarah Pring’s Lady Bertram and Jeni Bern’s Mrs Norris, while the other roles are all solidly sung.'

The Stage

'I would put an Austen tenner on this becoming a summer opera favourite, not least because it is both amusing and heartfelt. Dove and his librettist, Alasdair Middleton, are in tune with Mansfield Park's sense and sensibilities'

The Times

'Martin Lloyd-Evans directs the staging energetically, framed by Dick Bird's simple but elegant design'

The Telegraph

'Dove and his librettist Alasdair Middleton, did provide us with charming entertainment which was stylishly and slickly staged by director Martin Lloyd-Evans and designer Dick Bird'

Opera Today

'The grandiose architecture of The Grange was a fitting place to stage this new operatic production of Mansfield Park celebrating Jane Austen’s 200th and extending The Grange Festival’s successful 2017 season'

The Arbuturian

Albert Herring

'a delicious delight... impeccably directed, conducted and sung'

The Times

'as delightful as the day it was written'

Financial Times

‘Copley's expertly crafted production extracts every ounce of humour from Britten's cosy comedy; in the pit, Steuart Bedford brings precision and sensibility'

The Guardian

‘This is the best show I've seen there since the daring shot at Prokofiev's The Gambler a decade ago'

The Arts Desk

‘John Copley directs a peach of an Albert Herring for The Grange Festival'

Bachtrack

‘Pinkstone allowed his performance to become more animated and the final scene was a brilliant mixture of comedy and seriousness'

Planet Hugill

The cast was a true ensemble one, without a weak link in its golden chain'

musicOMH

‘a triumph of casting... superb singing and acting'

Classical Source

‘reassuringly skilful stagecraft' 'The ensemble is uniformly strong, but some rising singers really grab their chances'

The Stage

Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria

‘Anna Bonitatibus hit the emotional bull’s eye’, 'attractively sung and superbly acted'

Bachtrack

‘Meticulously directed by Tim Supple and inventively designed by Sumant Jayakrishnan’

The Daily Telegraph

A bold and innovative launch to the new Grange Festival’ ‘a new Grange Festival has risen phoenix-like in Hampshire’ ‘Exemplary central performances’

The Times

‘Nilon wonderfully captures Ulisse’s noble anguish’ ‘Bonitatibus embodies Monteverdian singing at its finest, fusing text and line into a single expressive unit, emotions contained and vivid.’

The Guardian

‘Paul Nilon turns in an extraordinary Ulisse’

The Stage

Carmen

'Bizet's orchestration, sparklingly dispatched by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the conductor Jean-Luc Tingaud'

The Times

'[This Carmen] has one of the most chilling scenes I've seen in a theatre all year'

Bachtrack

‘Na'ama Goldman, who happens to look a lot like the late Amy Winehouse, was terrifically cast in the title role'

The Arburturian

‘a vividly engaging account of Bizet's opera performed with a sure sense of style'

Planet Hugill

'No one could accuse director Annabel Arden and designer Joanna Parker's production of Carmen of not being innovative or accessible'

musicOMH

‘Annabel Arden's production certainly brings a fresh approach'

Classical Source
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