Simon Boccanegra, Grange Park Opera: Simon Keenlyside triumphs in Verdi's smart, sombre masterpiece
Pountney's production, billed here as a revival (though the opera has never previously been seen at Grange Park), actually originated over a quarter of a century ago at Welsh National Opera. It is now revived by Robin Tebbutt. No problem there, especially as it has brought with it the outstanding sets by the late Ralph Koltai – bare hanging sheets of metal and mirrors that move, with atmospheric abstract seascapes – all lit to vivid effect by Tim Mitchell.
The smell of power is on-stage from the start of the prologue, as the pirate Boccanegra is surprisingly chosen as Doge with the approbation of the crowd. Keenlyside transforms himself, growing in stature and nobility, his voice weaving around Verdi's lyrical baritonal lines with gripping shaping and eloquence. One of the challenges of the score is Verdi's over-reliance on bass voices, but here James Creswell as his rival Feisco (a fine debut here), David Shipley as the popular leader Pietro and Jolyon Loy as Paolo Albani (who poisons Boccanegra) all manage to accumulate great weight, not always avoiding heaviness, but projecting strongly.
The only counterweight to this male dominance is the ethereal voice of Amelia Grimaldi, an outstanding debut here by Elin Pritchard. She is revealed as Boccanegra's lost daughter Maria, and their recognition scene is deeply touching, especially when her devoted Gabriele Adorno, sung with stentorian if raw tone by tenor Otar Jorjikia, is overcome with relief at the revelation. The plots turn sour when Adorno is commanded to kill Boccanegra, but Albani's poison has already had its deadly effect, and in the third act the walls close in on the Doge as he fades, nobly blessing all and nominating Adorno as his successor.
Verdi had two major attempts at his score: realising that the 1857 version was just too gloomy, he radically revised the piece in 1881. (Mark Elder recently recorded the earlier version.) So there is now a mix of traditional arias, adjusted to provide more continuity, and new ensembles –especially the dramatic Council Chamber scene at the end of Act I. Here the resources of Grange Park, which has limited choral forces, told against the spectacle, which is dominated by a few spiky nobles on stilts. And although conductor Gianluca Marciano drove the score with vigour on Thursday, the playing of the Gascoigne Orchestra isn't yet quite a match for Verdi's ever-subtle accompaniments.
However, in assembling such an idiomatic cast in this fine historic staging, Grange Park Opera has raised its game and made a powerful new case for Verdi's score.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Lily Collins ditches the platform heels in favour of Birkenstock sandals as she films Emily In Paris season five on location in Venice
Lily Collins is typically spotted wearing a pair of towering chunky platform heels but as she films scenes for fifth season of Emily In Paris in Venice it has appeared she has ditched her killer stilettos. The actress, 36, who stars as the titular character, has headed to Venice, Italy, for the episodes as the series will follow her character's journey to Rome. But as she was filmed walking around Venice and meeting cast members for lunch, Lily was spotted wearing a pair of brown Birkenstock sandals. Wearing a bold red mini dress, Lily's character once again proved she is still every inch the fashionista. The bold outfit featured a puff ball skirt and some sheer long sleeves with a criss cross pattern printed all over. The actress wore matching tights which featured a bold lining on the inside of her legs. The actress, 36, who stars as the titular character, has headed to Venice, Italy , for the episodes as the series will follow her character's journey to Rome. As she enjoyed some food, the actress was shielded her from the blazing sun as they carried an umbrella over her head as Lily walked up the steps. Emily was left with a decision at the end of series four, as she was offered the position of the lead of the Italian Agence Grateau office. Despite falling in love with Paris and the agency, Emily admitted she was tempted by a new life - with a new man - in Rome. Fans will remember Emily and Gabriel's (Lucas Bravo) romance fell apart after they finally tried to make a go of their relationship after he broke off his relationship with Camille. Following a fake pregnancy scandal, Camille revealed she wasn't actually expecting and Emily and Gabriel tried to work out a romantic future. However, it wasn't meant to be for the star-crossed lovers who were unable to work out their differences and she was pushed into the arms of Marcello, after they met on the slopes of Megève, when she was abandoned at the top of a slope by Gabriel. They crossed paths again at a polo match in Paris and they enjoyed a night out together in the city, which lasted until the following morning when he asked her to come and visit him in Rome. Emily followed her heart and travelled to meet Marcello, where she was also tasked with acquiring his family's business by her boss Sylvie. However, Emily was reluctant to mix business with pleasure. The bold outfit featured a puff ball skirt and some sheer long sleeves with a criss cross pattern printed all over The actress wore matching tights which featured a bold lining on the inside of her legs The pair hit a stumbling block when he learned of her plans to try and secure a professional relationship with his family, who owned a luxury cashmere company, but they eventually managed to iron their issues out. At this point, Gabriel had a candid conversation with Alfie (Lucien Laviscount), who urged him to try and win Emily back, despite previously being romantically involved with her himself. But despite dashing to Rome with the hope of reuniting, Emily was nowhere to be seen as she enjoyed her romantic day out with Marcello. Speaking about the upcoming series, Lucas said: 'I think Gabriel realised that he doesn't want to let Emily go so easily, and he might have made a big mistake. 'They certainly had a big fight and a cooling-off period. But I think he realised that by the end of the season, that there's something that he doesn't want to let Emily go. 'I don't know what that means. Doesn't necessarily mean they're going to be together instantly or ever. I don't know, but I think he feels there's unfinished business with the two of them.' However, there is hope for the couple as according to creator Darren Star, the season is not fully moving to Rome. He told Deadline: 'She didn't change her Instagram handle to Emily in Rome. She is working in Rome sometimes. Sylvie's company has an office in Rome. 'Emily's getting that on its feet. I don't necessarily think that it means a permanent — in my mind, it's definitely not a permanent — move to Rome. We're not leaving Paris.' The series is expected to air towards the end of this year, but one of the main characters has revealed they won't be returning. Camille Razat, 31, who plays Camille in the romantic comedy-drama - took to Instagram to reveal the shocking news with an emotional goodbye post after fans fumed at bosses for 'destroying the character'. Camille has played Emily's pal and love rival in the show since the programme hit the streaming service back in 2020. Now, after five years on our screens as Camille, the actress is ready to move on. The new pictures come after fans were saddened to learn that one of the show's main character's won't be returning in the next series (Camille Razat pictured 2024) Camille Razat, who plays Camille (right) in the romantic comedy-drama revealed the news with an emotional goodbye post on Instagram after fans said bosses 'destroyed the character' Sharing various snaps from her time on the show, she wrote: 'After an incredible journey, I've made the decision to step away from Emily in Paris. 'It has been a truly wonderful experience, one filled with growth, creativity, and unforgettable memories. 'I'm deeply grateful to @starmandarren and the entire team at @netflix and @paramountpics for their trust and for giving me the opportunity to bring Camille to life and leaving the door open for her return, as she will always be a part of Emily In Paris world. 'This character has meant a lot to me, and I feel that her storyline has naturally come to an end. It felt like the right moment to explore new horizons.' She added: 'I've recently wrapped two series: Nero for Netflix and the Lost Station Girls for Disney+. I'm also excited to share that I've launched my own production company, @tazar_production. 'We mainly produce music videos and short films for now, but we're currently developing our first feature film, something I'm truly passionate about and excited to grow. 'I leave the show with nothing but love and admiration for the cast, crew, and fans who have supported us along the way. Thank you for the beautiful ride.' Her fans and co-stars rushed to the comments section to share their support. Lily said: 'Love you sister. It's been a wild ride and an absolute pleasure. You're a rockstar. So proud of you.' Philippine Beaulieu added: 'You'll be so missed ma chérie Frenchie!!!' Lucien wrote: 'From day one you've been my rider on this show. Your passion for story telling, your dark sense of humour, your unwavering ability to stay true to yourself, when everything's pushing you in a different direction. 'You're special Camille and I feel absolutely honoured to of been able to dance with you these past seasons. Keep on shining. 'I'm going to miss laughing with you. I'm cheering you on in everything you do.' Emily In Paris premiered on Netflix in October 2020. The synopsis on the streaming service reads: 'New passions. New fashions. New Emily? 'A plucky American marketing whiz spreads her wings in life and love after landing her dream job in Paris.' The show, created by Star, has had 40 episodes run over four seasons. It stars the likes of Lily, Philippine, Ashley Park, Lucas, Samuel Arnold, Bruno Gouery, William Abadie and Lucien.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Wynne Evans makes shock return to BBC for first time since calling in lawyers over Strictly Come Dancing tour axe
WELSH opera singer Wynne Evans surprised BBC viewers when he made an unexpected appearance on the public broadcaster. The tenor, 53, was dropped from his BBC Wales radio show and the the Strictly Live Tour for making a crude remark at the Strictly Live Tour launch event. 4 4 4 Wynne has even lawyered up to take the corporation to a tribunal over his sacking, so it came as a surprise when he popped up on BBC One on Saturday evening. The Go Compare star was teamed up with actress Joanna Page on the quiz show in the episode which was likely recorded before his legal action. While putting in a valiant effort, the pair missed out on making it to the finals and bowed out in the penultimate round. Wynne even promoted his appearance ahead of it going to air by posting a selfie with Joanna on Instagram. "Tonight back on BBC One for Celebrity Pointless with Joanna," he captioned the post. But viewers watching at home were less than impressed seeing Wynne on their tellies. "Seriously??? Who the hell thought Wynne Evans appearing would be a good idea," wrote one person on X, formerly Twitter. And a third commented: "This could be Wynne Evans's last BBC appearance #pointlesscelebrities." Wynne had competed on the 20th anniversary series of the Strictly Come Dancing with professional dancer Katya Jones. Furious Wynne Evans reveals he's no longer speaking to Strictly's Katya Jones as he hits out at BBC In May, he announced he had been dropped by the BBC and would no longer present on BBC Radio Wales after apologising for using "inappropriate language" during the launch of the Strictly tour. Bosses then axed his travelogue with pal Joanna Page, All At Sea, after just one season. Wynne's apology came after it was reported he had aimed a sexual joke at one of the other professional dancers, Janette Manrara, a claim he had denied. He was also embroiled in a ' gropegate ' scandal when he appeared to place an unsolicited hand on the stomach of pro partner Katya in last year's Strictly. More recently, Wynne revealed he had split from fiance Liz Brookes just weeks after getting engaged. 4
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Ellie Kildunne interview: Red Roses star is No 1 women's player on the planet and has an ever-growing profile... now she's ready for World Cup glory and to emulate Lionesses
There are many things in Ellie Kildunne's life that reflect the extraordinary growth of not only her own career, but also of women's rugby in England and female sport in general. She will start the Women's World Cup, which begins on Friday, as officially the best female player on the planet. She has signed sponsorship deals with Asahi, Canterbury and LG, among others, built her own fashion brand and posed for glossy front page magazine shoots. Kildunne, 25, also graduated from St Mary's University Twickenham with a 2:1 in sports and exercise science this summer while still in pre-season with England. But it was on a remote Italian mountain top a few months ago that the penny dropped for Kildunne as to how far she's come in the sport she loves. 'Life has changed and I do get recognised,' Kildunne told Daily Mail Sport as she prepares for a global glory bid as part of John Mitchell's Red Roses set-up. England star Ellie Kildunne will start next week's Women's World Cup as the game's No 1 star 'Sometimes, I don't actually believe it! I actually got recognised on holiday while I was in Italy. I was in a restaurant in the mountains and the waitress recognised me. 'I'm proud of that. It doesn't actually change anything. But it does make me think about how do I want people to remember me and what message do I want to send? 'Most of the time it's buy tickets to watch England at the World Cup because you're going to see something special! 'The more I do, it definitely comes with more pressure. 'I don't necessarily see that pressure in a bad way. But I do see it as my responsibility to always be myself. It's easy to just say things people want to hear. That's not me. 'I want to be authentic. That's what inspires people. I don't want to go on Google and see a ChatGPT-type answer next to my name. I want to be true to myself and if I say something, I'll believe it 100 per cent. I speak from the heart. 'That's normally the right thing to do.' Kildunne's ever-growing profile is set to go to another level entirely in the coming weeks. On Friday, she and England will begin their World Cup campaign against Ilona Maher's USA at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. England are firm favourites for the tournament. They are far and away the best team on the planet and have home advantage. In Kildunne, they also boast the current World Rugby women's player of the year. England haven't lost since they were beaten by New Zealand in the World Cup final of 2022. No-one should be able to stop them this time. Their last warm-up match saw them hammer France, one of the few teams normally capable of rivalling them. 'We all understand the pressure on us as a team,' full-back Kildunne said. 'But that's only there because we're brilliant and we've played and won under that pressure. 'We've had success. I'm proud to be in a position where people expect us to do well. 'First, it shows people care and second, it shows we've played well enough to have success and people are used to that. Pressure? What pressure? 'This is an opportunity to show what we're about and then exceed that. We want to go past what we've done before. I'm excited for the opportunity we've got to not just redefine women's rugby for the rest of our careers, but for the rest of our lives.' After English football's Lionesses claimed a second consecutive European Championship title in thrilling fashion this summer, their rugby compatriots are now hoping to follow suit with silverware of their own. Young footballers all over the country are now copying Chloe Kelly's iconic penalty routine or dreaming of being the next Leah Williamson or Alessia Russo. The RFU hopes England winning their own World Cup will have a similarly significant impact on women's rugby. In Kildunne, among others, they have fantastic players and models on which to market the female game. England should breeze past their Pool A opponents of USA, Samoa and Australia with the September 27 final at Twickenham the ultimate goal. 'It's a golden era of English women's sport and how great it is to be a part of that,' Kildunne said. 'We're massively proud of the Lionesses. The ripple effect they've had on women's football in England by being successful has been amazing. 'As soon as I saw the start of that, it was something I wanted to do in rugby. I want more people to be involved in rugby. I want young boys and girls to know there's an opportunity to play the game. 'Only a few years ago I remember I had a conversation with my agent and I said how I thought there should be more brand opportunities for women in sport. 'Now, brands are getting on board. I feel very privileged, proud and grateful to be in the position where I can get supported by people who want to grow women's rugby. Kildunne is a certain starter when England begin their World Cup bid against USA on Friday 'The more we can get these sort of brand deals, the more exposure we'll get and the greater that will benefit the women's game. It's now at a bigger stage than it ever has been before. But this is just the start. It's going to go on getting bigger. 'We've spoken about the journey to Everest and compared the World Cup to that. 'If you set off on a journey to Everest and try and do it in one go, you'll die. Simple as that. You've got to have different stops and hit base camps. That's what we've done. The Six Nations was a base camp. Our Everest summit is the World Cup final. 'This World Cup is going to be more than we could ever imagine. It's going to be the biggest stage of our career so far. We have things up our sleeve. I'm not going to say what they are. What I can say to opposition teams is be prepared to get better. 'We're not going to stop. We're playing for the opportunity to show the world how good we can be. People better get ready.'
