“The story of Orpheus in the underworld is about us all. We all have something of Orpheus in us. Who would not want to turn back the clock every now and then and stick to the happiness of the past? That is why the Orpheus story has always inspired artists of all times. For this staging, director Monique Wagemakers, choreographer Nanine Linning, designer Lonneke Gordijn from Studio Drift and fashion designer Marlou Breuls created L’ORFEO for the Nederlandse Reisopera. Their vision is that of a Gesamtkunstwerk; stage direction, choreography, sculpture, costume and music are completely merged together. Nanine Linning and...
“Tenor Boden vigorously expresses his human recklessness.” Theaterkrant, 26th January 2020 “Tenor Samuel Boden is an intimate, convincing Orfeo…★★★★” NRC.nl, 26th January 2020 “The demanding title role was excellently played by tenor Samuel Boden. Assisted by Ego, he managed to put his changing moods in the spotlight. Beautifully sung, well acted.” Place de l’Opera, 27th January 2020 “The tenor Samuel Boden has a well-kept dictation and effortlessly sings the sometimes difficult twists that Monteverdi puts into his mouth. – Even when the choir lifts [him] up and carries [him] across the stage.” Cultureelpers Bureau, 27th January 2020 “Samuel Boden (Orfeo) makes a big...
Well it’s been a very demanding and emotional six weeks here in Enschede for the Reisopera’s new production of L’Orfeo – putting all the various elements together for this quite audacious version of Monteverdi’s wonderful opera. Tonight is the dress rehearsal and we open the tour on Saturday, in the Wilmink Theatre. This show is a real labour of love and a totally collaborative project, incorporating contemporary movement (from both singers and dancers alike), an excellent vocal and dance cast, clear vision from Monique Wakemakers and choreographic wizardry from the force of nature that is Nanine Linning. To top it all, a groundbreaking moving...
Following ten days in Italy with Collegium Vocale Gent to give two performances and make a recording of Monteverdi’s ‘Vespers’ we have today travelled to Poland and will give another performance of the piece this evening at the Warsaw Philharmonic Concert Hall. There will be a live broadcast of this concert which starts at 20:30 BST for those who would like to listen online.
This December I will be performing with Les Arts Florissants for their Messiah tour 2016. The tour visits Germany, France, Spain, Hungary and the UK. Home turf supporters can see this Christmas classic in the Concert Hall at the Barbican on 19th December – visit barbican.org.uk for more information and tickets. For more exotic destinations please see the Les Arts Florissants website for full details of the tour or check out my Performance Diary.
Orphée et Eurydice has been voted Opera of the Year 2015 by the readers of Dutch magazine Place de l’Opera. The production received more than half of the hundreds of votes that were released last week. There were five productions nominated for Opera of the Year 2015, compiled on the basis of the “top 3” lists of 16 opera critics. Four of them had Orphée et Eurydice as their number one choice. Here are the final results: 1. Orphée et Eurydice (Dutch Touring Opera) 2. Lohengrin (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra) 3. Dialogues des Carmelites (National Opera) 4. Benvenuto Cellini (National Opera) 5....
