| Audience Reviews |
2009-10 The Barber of Seville |
“Loved music – hated opera – you changed that – THANKS” “Thank you all so much for giving the children such an amazing experience on Saturday. They are still buzzing this morning and I've had so many lovely comments from the parents saying how much they and the children enjoyed it. You made it so easy for us and I can't imagine a better introduction to opera - it was fantastic performance, fabulously sung and a wonderfully comic and slick production.” “Excellent performance. Never heard it in English and so funny before!” Please pass on my sincere thanks on behalf of Lincoln Cathedral to the crew, cast and musicians who put on the brilliant performance of The Barber of Seville last night at Doddington Hall. A truly magical evening enjoyed by all. Thanks for a wonderful night's entertainment last evening. You captured the bawdy knockabout spirit of Rossini's daft opera so brilliantly-and the singing was ace too. Excellent – arty opera at its best. Brilliant. Look forward to next year's performance.
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2008-9 Don Pasquale |
“It was a simply wonderful performance and I think probably one we have enjoyed the most over the many years we have been with you. The orchestra, as always, was marvellous but particularly the acting was excellent in our opinion." “Yet again, Garden Opera put on a wonderful show in The Square, Shrewsbury, yesterday evening. I always thought Don Pasquale would be right up your street and I wasn’t disappointed. Sally-Ann Shepherdson and Deryck Hamon in particular were both wonderful (but so was everyone else) – we still haven’t stopped laughing. And we’ll be there again in the front row next year, I trust!" Thurston End Hall, August 2008 “My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on Sunday evening at Blewbury and were delighted by the splendid performance in that gorgeous setting. I am completely sold on Garden Opera. It is a wonderful concept and I would be very pleased to work with you on a project."
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2007 -8 La bohème |
"The evening was fantastic despite the weather and much enjoyed. It was my first experience of opera and as a newbie(!) I can certainly recommend your company’s work as an ideal entry to the genre. Hope to see you in Chagford next year for another fab evening." "A quick message to say how much my husband and I and our friends and relations enjoyed the performance last night at Little Durnford. We have been to quite a few of your operas and always enjoy them enormously but last night was extra special. La boheme is a favourite anyway, but before the performance I couldn't imagine Mimi's death bed scene taking place in a garden rather than a big dark theatre. How wrong could I have been??!! I wasn't the only one wiping the tears from my eyes at the end. And we loved the added humour all the way through and the excellent diction too: a fantastic performance and a very large thank you please to the cast, orchestra and all the company. " "What a success. Met a friend in Edinburgh who had been to Little Durnford Manor, and our friends in Inverness had been to the Cawdor event…SO well spread and so enjoyed by all." "Thank you so much to you and the rest of the company for a really memorable evening. It was such a privilege to enjoy such wonderful music in our local park on such a perfect evening. The performers were wonderful and there was such a fantastic atmosphere of goodwill and camaraderie created by everyone involved. I really appreciate all the hard work that must have been put in to ensure such a splendid occasion. I wish you and Garden Opera much success in the future." |
2006-7 Così fan tutte |
| "Thoroughly enjoyed my first outdoor opera - don't want it to be my last!" Ashbourne Festival audience member "The weather was perfect of course but this just added to the event. The setting was ideal and the cast so professional, so funny, so excellent, the evening was so wonderful!!! Please keep us up to date with all your future production dates as I am now an ardent fan!" Wellington School audience member "Excellent acting as well as singing; my son's first opera (aged 8) and he couldn't stop laughing at all the 'funny bits' - we all adored it." Amesbury Abbey audience member "Brilliant production - we enjoyed it more than Covent Garden!" Abbotsbury audience member "We had a wonderful evening of music and fun - a really first-class performance - marvellous" Abbotsbury audience member "Witty & interesting interpretation of Così" Shrewsbury audience member "Lovely place and lovely music - an enchanting family evening" Hergest Croft Gardens audience member "My niece had never seen an opera and was delighted. It was a very memorable evening, we will certainly be coming again" Lampeter Velfrey, Pembrokeshire audience member > "I loved the intimate setting" Hambleden audience member "Wonderful entertainment - more please!" Shrewsbury audience member "Thank you for the splendid performance... I and my three companions were quite simply bowled over and promised each other that we would make sure of attending next year's production - and tell a lot of friends about it" Wellington School audience member "A brilliantly enjoyable and well thought out production. I am already looking forward to your next visit!" Grey College audience member "Loved the energy and humour of the players" Roadford Lake audience member |
2005-2006 La Cenerentola |
| "My wife and I go to a lot of opera, at the ROH and all over the world; Garden Opera with its fast moving witty productions and outstanding young singers has never disappointed us: something that cannot be said about some of the other companies." William John Rea, Devon "Total perfection! ... I shall continue to spread the word of what the nation is missing." Robina Thompson, Wiltshire "Cinderella was the best yet." Anthea Richards, St Ives "Wonderful! I shall be a loyal fan!" Alice Liddle, Norwich "Cenerentola hit exactly the right note - both for me (keen opera-goer) and friends who love theatre but not really opera." Stephen Smith, Warwickshire "We were a party of seven and all enjoyed ourselves hugely... My 9 year old daughter, who sings in the St Luke's choir, had the time of her life and is now an Opera enthusiast." |