Durham Opera Ensemble – Eugene Onegin

Excellent singing and characterisation in Durham Opera Ensemble’s small scale Eugene Onegin at the Assembly Rooms.

DOE: Alice in Wonderland

A riotously fun production of Will Todd’s jazz opera, Alice in Wonderland, performed in the gardens of St John’s College by Durham Opera Ensemble. There are two more performances and the weather forecast looks good, so grab a picnic rug and get a ticket.

DOE: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

I was delighted to see Durham Opera Ensemble choosing Britten for this year’s Gala show. A Midsummer Night’s dream was a big challenge but the final result was a very enjoyable performance, with some excellent singing.

Durham Opera Ensemble: Mansfield Park

Durham Opera Ensemble sparkle in Jonathan Dove and Alasdair Middleton’s lively and witty operatic version of Mansfield Park.

Durham Festival of the Arts 2016

Durham’s second Festival of the Arts, bringing together the university’s leading musical and theatre groups, begins on 3 June with a gala concert in the Cathedral. I’ve picked out a few of my highlights from the wide-ranging list of musical events on their programme.

DOE: A smouldering Spanish Carmen

Durham Opera Ensemble’s unmistakably Spanish Carmen, with strong performances from Sophia Smith Galer, Philippe Durrant, James Quitmann and Clare Ward, and a swelteringly hot orchestra and chorus.

A disturbing day of madness: DOE Figaro

Durham Opera Ensemble’s first production at the Gala Theatre takes Mozart’s great opera “The Marriage of Figaro” to the sixties in a production that brought out the uncomfortable truths behind the riotous comedy.

Coming soon: Monteverdi L’Orfeo

Exciting news from Durham Opera Ensemble for early music fans. In collaboration with David Stancliffe and a professional period instrument orchestra, they’ll be performing Monteverdi’s L‘Orfeo on 28 June  – I’m not sure of the venue yet, but put it in your diary and watch this space.