ow NOVEMBER 1992
CONTENTS
Charnel4 opera? Grisly goings on, certainly, in Welsh National
Opera's Elektra. See p50
Front cover: Ken Russe/1 and lane Glover Make-up : Mary Ell en Lamb
Photo: Clive Barck.J
OPERANOW is published by Rhinegold
Publishing Limited. "Opera Now" is a trade mark of Opera Now
Enterprises Limited.
Rhinegold Publishing Ltd, 241 Shaftesbury Avenue,
London WC2H 8EH Advertising 071-836 2534 Editorial 071-528 8784
Fax 071-528 7991 E-mail 75:MUS023
See p.54 for subscription details
Subscriptions administered by
Rhinegold Publishing
Subscriptions PO Box 47, Gravesend,
Kent DAI2 2AN Tel: 0474 334500 Fax: 0474 325557
Opera News Luciano Pavarotti at Covent Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 News features Elisabeth SOderstrom is quitting the opera stage to stage opera, as she tells Andrew Stewart. Peter Sellars talks to Graeme Kay about Messiaen, the Universe and everything . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Opera People by Andrew Stew art. Alan Sievewright comes out of his corner; Slovak composer Juraj BeneS talks about his Mecklenburgh opera, and Opera North's new Susanna, Linda Kitchen, discusses role-playing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Cover feature ENO audiences are in for more G&S high jinks as Ken Russell directs, and Jane Glover conducts, Princess /da. Richard Fawkes meets the production team, while Andrew Stewart seeks out the princess herself, Rosemary Joshua . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 The Richard Wagner Edition is out on CD and video. Simon Trezise listens in while Richard Fawkes surveys the scenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Books Top of everyone's Christmas list is the New Grove Dictionary of Opera. Editor Stanley Sadie explains how to be definitive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Sir Geraint Evans Noel Goodwin salutes the great Welsh baritone, who died in September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Music Theatre A palpable hit - that's the new King and I , says Mel Cooper 32 Singers of the Century Giacomo Lauri-Volpi: super ego, but indisputably a super voice, says John Steane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Opera Guide Noel Goodwin introduces the Excursions ofJamicek's charming comic hero Mr Broucek, landing at ENO soon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Opera Jobs: The Company Manager Anne Inglis talks to Welsh National Opera's Barbara Edwards, about prima donnas and the police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Opera World George Hall visits the Rossini Festival at Pesaro
New productions Opera Now reporters in London and Cardiff
44 48
Opera in View Samuel Ramey is devilishly good in Mefistofele, says Richard Fawkes 52 What opera means to me Musical theatre star Julie Andrews ... . ...... ... . .. 78
REGULARS
Letters ... 13 Audio Reviews ... 55 Box Office ... 61 Listings ... 62 Live Reviews ... 74
Editor Graeme Kay Deputy Editor Kate Hardy Assistant Editor Clare Stewart Associate Editor Jessica Duchen Art Editor Sarah Davies Deputy Art Editors Steve Talkington, Anna Eriksson, Phi! Wmgrove Senior Sales Executive Roshani de Silva Sales Executives Vanessa Macnaughton, Jon Butcher Advertising Production Manager Susan Roberts Subscriptions Manager Jo Bums Sales and Distribution Manager Richard Thomas Publishing Manager Therese Claffey Marketing Director Keith Diggle Managing Director Tony Gamble Printed by Perfectaprint, Oyster Lane, Byfleet, Surrey. Distributed by Comag (0895 444055)
3
