| Aldeburgh Festival - Aldeburgh | 26 April 2024 |
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Performance reviews
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GiantAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 1 | |
Medical ethics and 18th-century freakshows create a compelling new opera |
 12 Jun 23 / The Guardian |
I C O NAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 1 | |
Soprano Liselot De Wilde gave an incredible performance as our icon |
| 19 Jun 19 / Opera Now |
Das JagdgewehrAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Larcher’s score bristles with timbral curiosities |
| 19 Jun 19 / Opera Now |
Pretentious and frustrating |
| 13 Jun 19 / The Critics' Circle |
Luminous vocals and intense drama |
| 10 Jun 19 / The Guardian |
more reviews [+]
Larcher’s music expresses the bleaker aspects of intense introspection and self-knowledge |
| 9 Jun 19 / Classical Source |
This new opera by Thomas Larcher has a rare beauty and addictive charm |
| 9 Jun 19 / Telegraph |
Billy BuddAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 4 | |
The destruction of an innocent young sailor |
| 2 Jul 17 / Express |
A heart-stopping Billy Budd |
| 1 Jul 17 / The Observer |
A production of Britten’s opera that bent over backwards to serve the music |
| 29 Jun 17 / Financial Times |
more reviews [+]
Opera North sails in to the Aldeburgh Festival with a buoyant revival of Billy Budd |
| 26 Jun 17 / Bachtrack |
A Midsummer Night's DreamAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 9 | |
Der Klang des Anderen |
| 30 Jun 17 / Neue Zürcher Zeitung |
A Concert Hall celebration |
| 19 Jun 17 / Seen and Heard |
There may be fairies aplenty here, but there’s little enchantment |
| 15 Jun 17 / Independent |
more reviews [+]
A silvery Dream lost among the shadows |
| 12 Jun 17 / Bachtrack |
Into the Wood: A Midsummer Night's Dream at Snape Maltings |
| 12 Jun 17 / Opera Today |
Though the movement direction is often awkward, Netia Jones has found a visual language in tune with Britten’s music |
| 12 Jun 17 / The Times |
The star of the show is Netia Jones's elaborate video projection |
| 11 Jun 17 / Classical Source |
Britten's irresistible Shakespeare opera opens the 70th Aldeburgh Festival |
| 11 Jun 17 / What's on Stage |
Plenty of glorious singing to open the 2017 Aldeburgh Festival |
| 11 Jun 17 / Telegraph |
The CureAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 8 | |
Aldeburgh bows to Boulez and Birtwistle |
| 29 Jun 15 / The Guardian |
Two outstanding chamber operas By Birtwistle |
| 26 Jun 15 / Seen and Heard |
Admirably direct but doesn't quite cohere |
| 23 Jun 15 / Evening Standard |
more reviews [+]
Desire, deception, and death |
| 18 Jun 15 / Bachtrack |
Birtwistle's opera makes chilly debut |
| 15 Jun 15 / Independent |
Birtwistle unveils lyrical sequel to Orpheus story |
| 15 Jun 15 / The Guardian |
A potent double bill of chamber operas by Harrison Birtwistle |
| 15 Jun 15 / Financial Times |
Serious stuff |
| 14 Jun 15 / Telegraph |
The CorridorAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 8 | |
Aldeburgh bows to Boulez and Birtwistle |
| 29 Jun 15 / The Observer |
Two outstanding chamber operas By Birtwistle |
| 26 Jun 15 / Seen and Heard |
Admirably direct but doesn't quite cohere |
| 23 Jun 15 / Evening Standard |
more reviews [+]
Desire, deception, and death |
| 18 Jun 15 / Bachtrack |
Birtwistle's opera makes chilly debut |
| 15 Jun 15 / Independent |
Birtwistle unveils lyrical sequel to Orpheus story |
| 15 Jun 15 / The Guardian |
A potent double bill of chamber operas by Harrison Birtwistle |
| 15 Jun 15 / Financial Times |
Serious stuff |
| 14 Jun 15 / Telegraph |
associated articles [+]
Harrison Birtwistle, Medea and me
Birtwistle and David Harsent have written a companion piece to their opera The Corridor. Ahead of its Aldeburgh premier, the librettist explains how Middle English poetry led them back to Ancient Greece.
Birtwistle and David Harsent have written a companion piece to their opera The Corridor. Ahead of its Aldeburgh premier, the librettist explains how Middle English poetry led them back to Ancient Greece.
Owen WingraveAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 8 | |
Macabre ambiguity in Aldeburgh’s Owen Wingrave |
| 18 Jun 14 / Seen and Heard |
The drama of Britten's pacifist opera is still uncertain |
| 17 Jun 14 / The Guardian |
Brilliant pianism |
| 17 Jun 14 / Independent |
more reviews [+]
In this first world war centenary year, Britten’s pacifist opera was an appropriate centrepiece |
| 17 Jun 14 / Financial Times |
Britten's opera of conscientious objection is the headline offering at this year's Aldeburgh Festival |
| 17 Jun 14 / What's on Stage |
A mixed evening, offering an often impressive interpretation of a flawed work |
| 17 Jun 14 / The Stage |
An ideal cast fused as one with the young Britten-Pears Orchestra |
| 16 Jun 14 / The Arts Desk |
Neil Bartlett's production takes the wrong approach to this Cinderella among Britten's operas |
| 15 Jun 14 / Telegraph |
associated articles [+]
Owen Wingrave: A private peace
Benjamin Britten's 'pacifist' opera was written while war was at the forefront of people's minds. In this year of centenaries, director Neil Bartlett explains why the time is right for a revival.
Benjamin Britten's 'pacifist' opera was written while war was at the forefront of people's minds. In this year of centenaries, director Neil Bartlett explains why the time is right for a revival.
Peter GrimesAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 18 | |
Returning Britten's dark social parable Peter Grimes to the sea |
| 5 Jul 13 / New Statesman |
Grimes contra viento y marea |
| 29 Jun 13 / Mundo Clásico (Spanish) |
Staging of 'Peter Grimes' on the beach pays tribute to Britten at 100 |
| 26 Jun 13 / New York Times |
more reviews [+]
Vom Winde unterstützt |
| 25 Jun 13 / Klassik Info |
This Grimes on the Beach was a great experience-- an operatic happening |
| 25 Jun 13 / Musical Criticism |
Peter Grimes came home to its birthplace in an exhilarating performance |
| 24 Jun 13 / Express |
Grimes on the Beach - The chilling case of the bodies in the wave |
| 23 Jun 13 / Independent on Sunday |
A once-in-a-lifetime event to celebrate the centenary of its founder Benjamin Britten |
| 20 Jun 13 / Bloomberg |
An unforgettable experience for those lucky enough to be present |
| 19 Jun 13 / The Stage |
A remarkable, unrepeatable achievement |
| 19 Jun 13 / The Guardian |
A triumph against the odds |
| 19 Jun 13 / Telegraph |
Britten's greatest opera gets a staging to remember |
| 19 Jun 13 / The Arts Desk |
An extraordinary spectacle at the water's edge |
| 19 Jun 13 / Independent |
What a start to the Britten centenary Festival |
| 17 Jun 13 / Musical Criticism |
Alan Oke triumphed as Grimes |
| 11 Jun 13 / Classical Source |
Alan Oke gave Grimes an arresting inwardness |
| 11 Jun 13 / Independent |
The focus was intimately on Grimes himself |
| 11 Jun 13 / Financial Times |
Steuart Bedford conducted with compelling and absolute authority |
| 11 Jun 13 / Ipswich Star |
associated articles [+]
What an opera-tunity!
Standing ovation for first ever beach production of opera inspired by Suffolk fishing community.
Standing ovation for first ever beach production of opera inspired by Suffolk fishing community.
Peter Grimes on the beach? Shiver me tenors!
Freezing temperatures, mighty winds, shifting sands … can this attempt to stage Britten's great opera Peter Grimes on a Suffolk beach possibly succeed?
Freezing temperatures, mighty winds, shifting sands … can this attempt to stage Britten's great opera Peter Grimes on a Suffolk beach possibly succeed?
Nothing beats Benjamin Britten on a moonlit beach
The 100th anniversary of the composer's birth will see Peter Grimes performed as it should be.
The 100th anniversary of the composer's birth will see Peter Grimes performed as it should be.
Oke stands tall for the best of Britten
The tenor takes centre stage as ‘Peter Grimes’ returns to Aldeburgh.
The tenor takes centre stage as ‘Peter Grimes’ returns to Aldeburgh.
The Burning Fiery FurnaceAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 4 | |
Superb Britten parable tryptych at Aldeburgh Festival |
| 21 Jun 13 / Seen and Heard |
Intermittently rewarding |
| 20 Jun 13 / Telegraph |
Another mesmerising Britten production in Suffolk for the composer's centenary |
| 20 Jun 13 / The Arts Desk |
more reviews [+]
Some of Britten’s finest music is brought back into circulation |
| 19 Jun 13 / Financial Times |
Paul BunyanAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 4 | |
Superb Britten parable tryptych at Aldeburgh Festival |
| 21 Jun 13 / Seen and Heard |
Intermittently rewarding |
| 20 Jun 13 / Telegraph |
Another mesmerising Britten production in Suffolk for the composer's centenary |
| 20 Jun 13 / The Arts Desk |
more reviews [+]
Some of Britten’s finest music is brought back into circulation |
| 19 Jun 13 / Financial Times |
Curlew RiverAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Superb Britten parable tryptych at Aldeburgh Festival |
| 21 Jun 13 / Seen and Heard |
Intermittently rewarding |
| 20 Jun 13 / Telegraph |
Another mesmerising Britten production in Suffolk for the composer's centenary |
| 20 Jun 13 / The Arts Desk |
more reviews [+]
Curlew River lacks quiet wonder and mystery |
| 20 Jun 13 / The Guardian |
Some of Britten’s finest music is brought back into circulation |
| 19 Jun 13 / Financial Times |
Where the Wild Things AreAldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 6 | |
Maurice Sendak double bill |
| 22 Jun 12 / Telegraph |
The music-making throughout is of the highest quality |
| 15 Jun 12 / Musical Criticism |
Too sophisticated for children? |
| 12 Jun 12 / Telegraph |
more reviews [+]
Knussen’s highly-coloured sound-world is an invigorating place to be |
| 12 Jun 12 / Independent |
Inspired operatic takes on Maurice Sendak |
| 12 Jun 12 / Financial Times |
Perfectly judged |
| 11 Jun 12 / The Guardian |
Higglety Pigglety Pop!Aldeburgh FestivalNo. of reviews: 6 | |
Maurice Sendak double bill |
| 22 Jun 12 / Telegraph |
The music-making throughout is of the highest quality |
| 15 Jun 12 / Musical Criticism |
Too sophisticated for children? |
| 12 Jun 12 / Telegraph |
more reviews [+]
Knussen’s highly-coloured sound-world is an invigorating place to be |
| 12 Jun 12 / Independent |
Inspired operatic takes on Maurice Sendak |
| 12 Jun 12 / Financial Times |
Perfectly judged |
| 11 Jun 12 / The Guardian |
| No more reviews |
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Performance schedule
Weir
7 Jun 2024
Purcell
9 Jun 2024
Britten
21 to 22 Jun 2024
Schönberg
21 Jun 2024
News & Articles
| Aldeburgh Festival unveils 2023 edition |
On the opera front, audiences will get a chance to experience Sarah Angliss’ “Giant,” which tells the story of Charles Byrne, “a man whose corpse was stolen to order and put on public display.” |
| 23 Dec 2022 / OperaWire |
| Aldeburgh Festival to stream iconic production of ‘Peter Grimes’ |
The Aldeburgh Festival is set to present a 2013 production of “Peter Grimes” on BBC iPlayer. The production, which was directed by Tim Albery was notable for setting the opera on a beach by the North Sea. |
| 19 Jun 2020 / OperaWire |
| Harrison Birtwistle, Medea and me |
Birtwistle and David Harsent have written a companion piece to their opera The Corridor. Ahead of its Aldeburgh premier, the librettist explains how Middle English poetry led them back to Ancient Greece. |
| 31 May 2015 / The Guardian |
| ‘Music should be a natural part of everyday life’ |
Roger Wright, the chief executive of the Aldeburgh festival on Britten, Birtwistle and leaving Radio 3. |
| 19 Jan 2015 / The Guardian |
| What an opera-tunity! |
Standing ovation for first ever beach production of opera inspired by Suffolk fishing community. |
| 19 Jun 2013 / Daily Mail |
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