Past Operas

For a full list of past productions click here.

Lakmé by Delibes

Performed in the Victoria Rooms, Bristol on 6-9 April 2005.

Made famous by the flower duet, Lakmé is a tale of impossible love [ed like most operas?].

It received excellent reviews:

Bristol Evening Post review:

"It fell to Ethel-Jane Cormack to take on this daunting task and she did not shy away from the challenge for a moment. Some of the coloratura phrases may have been a little too careful, and less pleasing, than the rest of her delivery but, vocally, Ms Cormack was well in control of this exacting role.

"The famous Flower Duet sung with Emily Wilson's nicely understated Mellika, her servant, had warmth and a lovely hint of humour.

...No shortage of strength or commitment...in Steve Harris's Nilakantha, Lakme's vengeful father.

"Under the baton of Ben England the orchestra powerfully highlighted the drama within this story of love, vengeance and rejection."

Viola by Peter Marlow

Workshopped at The Park Centre on 10 July 2003.

A home-grown opera by a long standing member of the company. Based on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night the opera was very well received. Charlotte Monk was particularly impressive in the role of Viola.

Les Indes Galantes by J.P. Rameau

Performed at St. Georges, Bristol on 7,8 & 9 May 2003.

Rian Evans writing for The Guardian:

"It was in June 1952, as the UK was contemplating the dawn of another Elizabethan era, that Paris Opera put on the first modern revival of Rameau's opera-ballet Les Indes Galantes. It has taken another half-century for it to be staged in Britain, and it is Bristol Opera who have been brave enough to do so.

"There are usually good reasons why certain things don't get performed: the fact that Les Indes Galantes requires a shipwreck and the eruption of a Peruvian volcano is obstacle enough. Since St George's simple 18th-century stage demands a bit of sleight of hand anyway, Bristol Opera was undeterred, feeling the music was perfect for the building.

"By and large, it was. Les Arts Florissants they are not, but, with such ravishing music delivered with admirable conviction, Bristol Opera's was a gamble worth taking. In particular Lucy van Gasse, Ethel-Jane Cormack and Shie Shoji made pleasing listening.

"Aspects of Love in a hot climate would just about sum up the thin threads of plot, with its prologue and four entrees, variously set on an Indian Ocean island, at a sun festival in the Andes, at a Persian flower festival and with a tribe of native north Americans. With the indes of the title applying anywhere far-flung, the piece is an awkward mixture of PC and non-PC. But, in widening their horizons, Rameau and his librettist Fuzellier were embracing Enlightenment principles. And Alexandra Denman's straightforward direction and matter-of-fact English translation allowed the preoccupations with love, honour and ritual to emerge clearly through the prism of graceful French galanterie.

"What is so remarkable about Rameau is the dramatic tension and highly descriptive instrumental and harmonic colour vividly conjured, with the furious storm making the shipwreck and the dark volcanic rumblings of the Sun God entirely credible. Musical director Mark Finch handled these textures well, his wind players weaving Rameau's intricate lines stylishly, and the chorus was inspired to a nicely resonant sound. What an enterprising way for a company to celebrate an anniversary."

Cosi Fan Tutti by W.A. Mozart

Performed at QEH Theatre on 23, 24, 25 & 26 October 2002

Phillip Thrupp writing for The Rose Bowl

"This was a completely entracing and successful presentation of a highly complex and musically challenging work, and accounted for one of those rare occasions across the years when an adjudicator wishes to put down his pen and enjoy a memorable evening of theatre."

Following this fantastic review we won two major awards, click here for details.