L’isola disabitata - Photo © The Royal Opera House / Johan Persson – October 2010
We have received some great reviews for the Royal Opera House’s recent production of Haydn’s L’isola disabitata, featuring the Jette Parker Young Artists. Below are some of the highlights.
Underpinning all this glorious singing and impressive stage business was a near-perfect performance from the Southbank Sinfonia of young professionals.
Miranda Jackson, Opera Britannia
The excellent young players of the Southbank Sinfonia barely put a foot wrong. Though the orchestra was relatively small in number (strings 6.4.4.3.2), it did not sound so; it sounded full of life and did not shirk the anticipations of Beethoven one hears even in Haydn of 1779 vintage. The aforementioned quartet features solos for violin, cello, flute, and bassoon: all were delectably taken. Indeed, the solo work of leader Olga Muszyńska was first class throughout.
Mark Berry, Boulezian
The piece comes over strongly musically, thanks to conductor Volker Krafft and the excellent Southbank Sinfonia in the pit.
George Hall, The Stage
…so engagingly played by Southbank Sinfonia under Volker Krafft
Hilary Finch, The Times
Volker Krafft made a good case for it [L’isola Disabitata], wringing a full-blooded, forward-looking sound from the pocket-sized Southbank Sinfonia
Intermezzo
…fantastic support from the Southbank Sinfonia, who played Haydn with joyous aplomb
Nick Breckenfield, What’s On Stage.com
