Following sold out and critically acclaimed performances of Tristan und Isolde, Die Walküre [see my review] and Siegfried [see Tony’s review], the London Opera Company (LOC) returns to Sinfonia Smith Square (formerly St John’s Smith Square) on Sunday 19 October with a full orchestra for its most ambitious concert yet – Götterdämmerung
The production features a cast of seasoned professionals including Katie Lowe, who made her Royal Opera House (ROH) debut in Die Walküre earlier this year, and Philippa Boyle, who returns as Gutrune following a wonderful Sieglinde for the London Opera Company in 2023. Philippa also performed for the first time at ROH in their award-winning Festen. Harriet Williams sings Waltraute. Neal Cooper takes on the role of Siegfried (currently singing Thibault at ROH) and Cara Mchardy following her excellent reviews for Siegfried and Die Walkūre with LOC continues her role as Brünnhilde.
They are joined by voices fresh to Wagner and an orchestra with a core of professionals playing alongside the best post-graduates from London’s top music colleges. LOC Orchestral Bursary offers a yearly prize and paid opportunity for a talented musician nurturing young talent.
Peter Selwyn conducts the orchestra. This follows his recent success with Opera Holland Park’s Der Fliegende Holländer [see my review], and see my 2022 interview with Peter Selwyn, ‘From Bayreuth to Grimeborn‘.
The Wagner Tubas and Stierhorn, kindly loaned by the Royal Opera House, will, as with the Company’s much celebrated production of Die Walküre, bring a special grandeur to the performance.
Further details from Sinfonia Smith Square’s website.
