| Longborough Festival Opera - Longborough | 24 April 2024 |
click here for a gallery of photos from recent productions
click here for more photos for
there are no videos for thisopera company
You've been granted free access to this page.
Take a FREE 7 DAY TRIAL or SUBSCRIBE today to access the full content of theoperacritic.com.
Free access
Performance reviews
| Key | 
Photo gallery
|
Production details
|
Video link
|
Tristan und IsoldeLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 9 | |
Lee Bisset’s Isolde is remarkable, so beautifully expressive and vocally powerful |
 14 Jun 17 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
Peter Wedd and Lee Bisset prove particularly effective in the title roles |
| 11 Jun 17 / Music OMH |
A flesh & blood Tristan at Longborough |
| 10 Jun 17 / Bachtrack |
more reviews [+]
Anthony Negus brings a compelling authority to Wagner – his conducting is in a league of its own |
| 10 Jun 17 / Classical Source |
JenufaLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
Trouble at mill |
| 16 Aug 16 / The Critics' Circle |
The part of Kostelnicka needs to be performed by a larger-than-life woman and Ms Keeble fits the bill so convincingly |
| 27 Jul 16 / Stratford-upon-Avon Herald |
Gaynor Keeble gives an acting master-class worthy of any theatrical stage |
| 21 Jul 16 / Goucestershire Live |
more reviews [+]
Janáček's masterpiece is graced by a memorable performance in the title role |
| 21 Jul 16 / What's on Stage |
No histrionics, just raw emotion for Janáček's tragic opera |
| 19 Jul 16 / The Guardian |
Janáček's happy-ending tragedy is powerfully moving despite untidy details |
| 19 Jul 16 / The Arts Desk |
Lee Bisset’s Jenůfa went from strength to strength |
| 18 Jul 16 / Classical Source |
AlcinaLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | |
High musical values in this jumble sale-chic show |
| 5 Aug 16 / Evening Standard |
A brooding Alcina at Longborough |
| 2 Aug 16 / Seen and Heard |
Handelians will be impressed |
| 1 Aug 16 / Classical Source |
Le nozze di FigaroLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 6 | |
The singing was uniformly excellent |
| 5 Jul 16 / Independent |
Longborough’s Figaro is a spirited and exceptionally well-performed version of this comedy of errors |
| 5 Jul 16 / Stratford-upon-Avon Herald |
A thought-provoking Marriage of Figaro at Longborough |
| 30 Jun 16 / Seen and Heard |
more reviews [+]
Robert Houssart conducts well and the singing is generally of a high standard |
| 29 Jun 16 / Music OMH |
With its comparative economy of means, this is a very likeable production of Mozart’s masterpiece |
| 29 Jun 16 / Classical Source |
Upstairs, downstairs |
| 28 Jun 16 / Bachtrack |
Tristan und IsoldeLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 10 | |
John Treleaven gave a creditable portrayal of a man in psychological torment |
| 18 Jun 16 / Stratford-upon-Avon Herald |
Longborough's new production of Tristan und Isolde will remain a yardstick |
| 25 Jun 15 / The Spectator |
A five-star musical performance trapped in a one-star production of Wagner's opera |
| 24 Jun 15 / What's on Stage |
more reviews [+]
In the end it was Rachel Nicholls whose natural modesty and effortless singing swept all aside |
| 24 Jun 15 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
At its centre are the performances of Peter Wedd as Tristan and Rachel Nicholls as Isolde |
| 23 Jun 15 / The Birmingham Post |
Longborough Festival Opera sets high standard with Tristan und Isolde |
| 22 Jun 15 / Seen and Heard |
When it comes to staging Wagner, musical intelligence is more important than vast resources and superstar talent |
| 18 Jun 15 / Telegraph |
Longborough’s Tristan is a musical triumph under conductor Anthony Negus |
| 18 Jun 15 / The Stage |
‘Tristan und Isolde’ brings thunder to the Longborough Festival |
| 18 Jun 15 / New York Times |
Negus's conducting is worth the entire evening |
| 18 Jun 15 / The Guardian |
TannhäuserLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 10 | |
Longborough’s Tannhäuser is a major relief after ENO’s abysmal Tristan |
| 17 Jun 16 / The Spectator |
Negus brings persuasive grandeur and lightness of touch to Longborough’s Tannhäuser |
| 17 Jun 16 / Seen and Heard |
A clear staging but the singing disappoints |
| 15 Jun 16 / The Guardian |
more reviews [+]
An enjoyable and illuminating Tannhäuser |
| 15 Jun 16 / Mark Ronan's Theatre Reviews |
This Tannhäuser is a treat for the ears - but it's a shame about the staging |
| 14 Jun 16 / Telegraph |
Tricky things, orgies |
| 13 Jun 16 / Gloucestershire Echo |
Ganz nach Wagners Geschmack |
| 13 Jun 16 / Opernnetz |
The greatest hero of all is Anthony Negus whose conducting explores every phrase and nuance in the music |
| 12 Jun 16 / Music OMH |
This is a Tannhäuser not to miss |
| 11 Jun 16 / Classical Source |
Impressively conducted Tannhäuser from Anthony Negus opens Longborough’s season |
| 11 Jun 16 / Bachtrack |
XerxesLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | |
Handel's Serse from Longborough's young artists |
| 3 Aug 15 / Planet Hugill |
A feast of virtuoso singing and lively characterisation |
| 30 Jul 15 / The Birmingham Post |
Passion, jealousy and deceit in Handel’s Xerxes at Longborough |
| 27 Jul 15 / Seen and Heard |
RigolettoLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Longborough has the Midas touch of bringing quality and creative imagination to whatever the work it is staging |
| 14 Jul 15 / The Birmingham Post |
Verdi's Mantua transplanted to Detroit but better sung than staged |
| 10 Jul 15 / The Arts Desk |
Glory days and nights at Longborough |
| 10 Jul 15 / Stratford-upon-Avon Herald |
more reviews [+]
American 1920s setting works a treat |
| 7 Jul 15 / Independent |
Longborough delivers a quality Rigoletto 1920s-style |
| 7 Jul 15 / Bachtrack |
Don PasqualeLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 4 | |
The 18th century sections of this production worked gloriously |
| 14 Jul 15 / The Birmingham Post |
Glory days and nights at Longborough |
| 10 Jul 15 / Stratford-upon-Avon Herald |
Susanna Hurrell shines at Longborough's Don Pasquale |
| 7 Jul 15 / Bachtrack |
more reviews [+]
Imaginative staging of Don Pasquale at Longborough |
| 6 Jul 15 / Seen and Heard |
RinaldoLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | |
Handel's crusade is replaced by a circus |
| 26 Jul 14 / The Guardian |
Crusades to circus: Handel’s Rinaldo in a surprising setting |
| 26 Jul 14 / Seen and Heard |
Il barbiere di SivigliaLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | |
"Just my usual, please, Figaro" |
| 12 Jul 14 / Bachtrack |
The presentation in this production overtaxes the venue |
| 5 Jul 14 / The Birmingham Post |
ToscaLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | |
An extraordinarily sensitive performance from Lee Bisset as Tosca |
| 27 Jun 14 / The Birmingham Post |
La bohèmeLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 1 | |
Puccini's concise masterpiece flourishes as Wagner's expansive one did in intimate surroundings |
| 22 Jul 13 / The Arts Desk |
Der Ring des NibelungenLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 3 | |
No one who was there would doubt this was a great event |
| 25 Jun 13 / The Guardian |
Brilliant Wagner in small theatre reveals unexpected intimacies |
| 24 Jun 13 / The Arts Desk |
Die Walküre: Magic fire is being kindled in the Cotswolds |
| 20 Jun 13 / Independent |
associated articles [+]
‘Ring’ without the bling
A Wagnerite couple prepares to tackle opera’s Everest in a sleepy village deep in the English countryside.
A Wagnerite couple prepares to tackle opera’s Everest in a sleepy village deep in the English countryside.
GötterdämmerungLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
Vocally, there was much to savour throughout the cast |
| 27 Jul 12 / The Oxford Times |
A monumental achievement |
| 23 Jul 12 / Seen and Heard |
By any reckoning it was a staggering achievement |
| 22 Jul 12 / The Observer |
more reviews [+]
Wagner himself would be delighted with Alan Privett’s production of Götterdämmerung |
| 19 Jul 12 / Telegraph |
Rachel Nicholls dominates the stage as the ex-Valkyrie |
| 19 Jul 12 / Independent |
Longborough’s staging tells the story simply, truthfully and imaginatively |
| 19 Jul 12 / Financial Times |
Superb Wagner in a Gloucestershire barn promises well for next year's Ring cycle |
| 18 Jul 12 / The Arts Desk |
Kat'a KabanovaLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | |
A thrilling, sometimes emotionally draining production of Leos Janacek’s Katya Kabanova |
| 28 Jun 12 / The Oxford Times |
Janáèek's Russia as a house of the dead with a spotlight on emotion |
| 28 Jun 12 / The Arts Desk |
Die ZauberflöteLongborough Festival OperaNo. of reviews: 2 | |
This Flute lacks any sense of magic or the supernatural |
| 14 Jun 12 / The Oxford Times |
Magical start to the 21st Longborough Opera Festival |
| 12 Jun 12 / Seen and Heard |
| << back | No more reviews |
Reviews search
Performance schedule
Wagner
16 Jun to 4 Jul 2024
Wagner
18 Jun to 14 Jul 2024
Wagner
20 Jun to 7 Jul 2024
Wagner
22 Jun to 9 Jul 2024
Puccini
27 Jul to 6 Aug 2024
News & Articles
| We're all going to the circus |
Longborough Festival Opera's imaginative solution for Summer opera. |
| 1 Mar 2021 / Planet Hugill |
| Longborough Festival Opera, 2020 reporté en 2021 grâce aux dons |
Le Festival d'Opéra de Longborough a été contraint d'annuler son édition 2020 (en mars dernier) mais dans un Royaume culturel désuni et en ruines, il a pu en sauver une belle proportion ainsi que des engagements d'artistes pour 2021. |
| 14 Nov 2020 / Olyrix |
| Longborough Festival Opera announces 2021 season |
The U.K festival, which is scheduled to take place between June 4 and August 3 will showcase four productions. |
| 24 Jul 2020 / OperaWire |
| Longborough Festival Opera audience members raise over £300,000 |
The Longborough Festival Opera has announced that 1,000 audience members have chosen to donate the value of their tickets, generating a fund of over £300,000. |
| 25 Apr 2020 / OperaWire |
| The miracle of Longborough |
Ring cycles have been known to break national opera companies. Longborough Festival Opera is about to embark upon their second. How do they do it? |
| 7 Jun 2019 / The Spectator |
 |