What the Kentish Times had to say:

Five-day sell out for opera group with 'Cav and Pag'

KENTISH Opera took a break from the Churchill Theatre last week when the company staged a production of two very popular operas, Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci, at The Stag Theatre. The theatre was virtually sold out for every performance of the five-night run.

Mascagni's powerful portrayal of love and jealousy in a country village is, perhaps, best known for its magnificent Easter Hymn and very popular Intermezzo.

Certainly, the performance was well up to the very high standards set by the company with an imposing set, a superb chorus and a truly outstanding tenor in Bradley Daley who played the role of Turiddu.

Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci, however, lacked the sense of drama and despair that opera lovers have come to expect of the work.

Anton Rich in the 'title' role had a pleasant tenor voice but tended towards over emphasis of his actions. And he displayed too little of the anguish his character should have felt when suddenly faced with his wife's infidelity. Janet Fairlie as the unfaithful Nedda and Paul Napier-Burrows as a crippled player who is also in love with Nedda both made a particularly powerful impact on the production. The orchestra conducted by Stephen Harris was excellent.

ROY ATTERBURY
Kentish Times, 14th December 2001