It’s bad enough that the French won the World Cup, but to have a whole programme of French Opera and French Song is sort of mean! Well, NO, it’s quite special with all the great melodies and tunes. When you have Gounod, Saint-Saens, Lalo, Delibes, and Offenbach to choose from what else could you possibly need? Bizet of course – and this we had in spades.
Manchester Opera are fortunate to have some special soloists, a hard working conductor in Juan Ortuno, and a phenominal accompanist in Jonathan Ellis. When this stunning pianist decides to play sympathetically as he did this afternoon then he is truly special!
So many great solos, too many names to mention, and a chorus sound to rival the Royal Opera House, the audience couldn’t fail to be knocked out – and we were. Sadly this concert was too late in the Fringe to be considered for an award, but if it was in my power they would all get one.
Well done!
Andrew Hodkinson