Fflur Wyn has received sensational reviews for her performance in the title-role of Delibe’s Lakmé at Opera Holland Park. Singing alongside Rayfield Allied mezzo-soprano Katie Bray the critics have been unanimous in their praise:
“In the end, though, Lakmé stands or falls by the quality of the singing. In the title role, Fflur Wyn has the measure of the coloratura of the Bell Song, sustains the lyric line of the act one duet, ably abetted by Katie Bray’s Mallika, and finds the range of expression to make the scene of self-sacrifice truly affecting in the final act.” – Martin Kettle, The Guardian
“Fflur Wyn was quite enchanting in the title-role, singing diamantine coloratura with near-perfect accuracy of intonation and coruscating tone, complemented by the warm honeyed tenor of Robert Murray as the smitten army officer. Their duets were as pleasurable as their arias, and both demonstrated an elegant sense of Gallic style.”
– Rupert Christansen, The Telegraph
“Fflur Wyn’s Lakmé is small but perfectly formed, her Bell Song a glittering highlight.” – Alexandra Coghlan, The Independent
“[Wyn] sings sincerely, accurately and stylishly.” – Anna Picard, The Times
“The star was Fflur Wyn as Lakmé, not merely because she sings the title role with its pinging, stratospherically high “Bell Song”, one of the most celebrated of coloratura showpieces…Wyn radiates a tender determination.”
– Fiona Maddocks, The Observer
“Fflur Wyn has the delicate, pure quality in her voice to make the celebrated “Bell Song” echo like a tintinnabulation from afar, and can summon enough vocal strength to fill the semi-open-air theatre.”
– Richard Fairman, Financial Times
“Lakmé demands much of the soprano tackling the title role. Fflur Wyn delivered a strong performance – more sensual woman than chaste priestess – her lyric soprano opening up beautifully in its upper reaches. In the famous Bell Song “Où va la jeune Hindoue”, she demonstrated hypnotic melismata, a sure trill, delicate pianissimi and a fine top E.”
– Mark Pullinger, bachtrack.com
“The singing is of a uniformly high standard. In an unbeatable combination, Fflur Wyn’s Lakme marries technical skill with lyric warmth, also embodying physically the heroine’s spiritual status as the daughter of the gods.”
– George Hall, The Stage
“I’d mislabelled Fflur Wyn, so good in Handel and as Alice in Will Todd’s site-specific opera for children returning to Holland Park later this month, as just a stylish light lyric; the voice now opens out gloriously whenever it goes up and over in Delibes’s more ecstatic phrases. Lakmé is only really a coloratura role in the celebrated highlight; leading up to it, the unaccompanied vocalise is here a model of bel canto, and the Bell Song itself has plenty of stylish trills as well as more of that opening-out which sets the seal of distinction on this performance. Joan Sutherland spoilt us for a fullness in the top E at the end, but Wyn just about carries that off, too.”
– David Nice, theartsdesk.com
Performances of Lakmé run until 31st July 2015. For more information and to book your tickets please click here.
