Fledermaus 2019Clyde Opera Group
Read more about the opera Fledermaus
Following successful productions of La Bohème, Rigoletto and Cosi Fan Tutte, Clyde Opera opened their fourth season with Die Fledermaus by Johan Strauss II. With an excellent orchestra of over 20 players under the confident direction of Răzvan Luculescu, the cast was truly international, drawing young singers from the US, Mexico, South Korea, Romania, Switzerland, Finland and the UK.
The production, finely directed by Glasgow University graduate Hannah Brown, was not placed geographically although three of the principal males were unashamedly North American and Frosch the gaoler was firmly and amusingly planted in Glasgow! The sets were simple but effective and a cleverly worked lighting plot added to the enjoyment.
Roxanne Nite, the Artistic Director of the company, brought experience and a full tone to the role of Rosalinda and her ‘Cśardaś’ was memorable. Quirina Lechmann added gaiety to her role as the maid Adela. The two tenor roles Von Eisenstein and Alfred were well handled by Luke Norvell and Hugh Benson. The former, until recently a baritone, was making his debut on the opera stage as a tenor and the latter from England, effecting a good Italian accent.
Orlofsky was played confidently by Finnish mezzo Annemari Moilanen and Frank the warden was sung by Gabriel Arbesu with a good firm tone – and with humour. But the stand-out voice for me was the baritone Richard Lindsey playing Dr Falke. He is a very experienced singer from America with a beautifully produced voice and a stage presence to match.
Many of the numbers were supplemented with ‘music hall’ choreography (sometimes unnecessarily I suggest) by Maureen Christie. However, in the party scene, there was a troupe of young ballerinas, there to entertain the partygoers and delight the audience.
All in all, another successful production much appreciated by a large audience.
