September 2007

....unquestionably it was the best evening of the three (June 2nd). This is partially because it it a great opera, but credit must also go to the fine cast,excellent conductor and and impressive production for giving it such substantial impact.

In Lee Blakeley's consistently imaginative production, presented in colorful, thought-provoking sets by Joe Vanek, the theme of man's negative impact on the natural environment was underlined.

An unusually dark realization of what is already a dark fairy-tale, this was a moving, sensitively visualised production of one of the great romantic operas.


17 June 2007
Final curtain calls for successful Opera festival

.....the more mainstream offering at the festival, Rusalka, introduced Wexford to director, Lee Blakeley and was a most charming introduction. The direction here was elegantly seamless. The personification of the moon, in the form of acrobat David Greeves was far from a mere visual stunt . . . it emphasised a sense of space, both physical and symbolical, between murky depths and dreamy heights and commented subtly on the theme of the fragile balance of nature versus man that Blakeley drew attention to in other elements of the presentation. The dark imagery of trapped souls and tortured bodies, which opened the third act, was a perfect hook on which to hang the ensuing tragedy. Helena Kaupoya (Rusalka), Bryan Hymel (Prince) and Katerina Jalocova (Jezibaba) boasted the best vocal abilities I heard all weekend and the orchestra, under Dmitri Jurowski, gave a terrific performance of Dvorak's wonderful score. I will be surprised if this production doesn't pick up an award, or awards, for its troubles.


17 June 2007

Director Lee Blakeley seizes his opportunity with a production that would appear a distinguished piece of work on any stage, charting a fascinating and consistent course through the complex possibilities of the tale. Joe Vanek’s sets and costumes are among the finest seen on the Wexford stage in recent times. All in all, it’s a show that returns to Wexford its reputation as a centre of excellence.