Tag Archives: André Heyboer

Buxton Festival 2026

The first three days of the Buxton featured three very different operas: Franz Lehar’s Merry Widow on the opening night, followed by Verdi’s La Traviata and Handel’s Amadigi di Gaula. Each in its own way typifying three time periods, but the main attraction for me was the appearance of Polish-American coloratura soprano Alexandra Nowakowski as …

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Ernani, La Canterina, The Boatswain’s Mate, Buxton Festival, July 2024

Of the four operas I saw in four days at Buxton, The Boatswain’s Mate by Ethel Smyth was the most fun. Like Haydn’s La Canterina this was really an operetta, both providing a delightful contrast to the blood and thunder of Verdi’s Ernani. Only Peter Brook’s take on Carmen seriously disappointed — see my review …

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