Last week Oliver Mears’ new production of Eugene Onegin opened at Scottish Opera. Rayfield Allied artists Peter Auty and Stuart Stratford have both received excellent reviews:
“Peter Auty gives a magnetic depth to the character of her fiancé Lensky. From his bright and lively entrance in Act I to his hot-headed jealousy in Act II, Auty portrays Lensky’s ardent passions with vocal magnitude and a captivating stage presence. His brooding duet as he contemplates his and Onegin’s upcoming duel is rich and heartfelt, with beautifully bubbling obligati from clarinet and oboe.”
Miranda Heggie, ArtsDesk
“Peter Auty is a touching Lensky, whose ardent honesty is an obvious mismatch with Sioned Gwen Davies’s wild Olga.”
Andrew Clements, The Guardian
“Most impressive too was the Lensky of Peter Auty, he seemed to be on top of his form, and very much like when it was so famously played by the great Russian tenor Sergei Lemeshev. Lensky’s aria to Olga ‘I love you’ was marvellously well sung.”
Gregor Tassie, Seen and Heard International
“The score is conducted with total conviction by Stuart Stratford. The Russian repertory is one of his specialisms, and it shows in the wonderfully rich textures he draws from the Scottish Opera orchestra, and by his habitually faultless dramatic pacing”
Andrew Clements, The Guardian
“One of the highlights however was the splendid playing of the orchestra under Stuart Stratford, their clarity and musical characterisation of the richly written score was wonderfully performed.”
Gregor Tassie, Seen and Heard International
“Stuart Stratford, Scottish Opera's resourceful music director, conducted his orchestra with a wonderful Tchaikovskian flair; his account of the dance interludes in particular overflowed with élan.”
Mark Valencia, WhatsOnStage
Eugene Onegin is being performed at Scottish Opera until 5 May, after which it travels to His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen (10-12 May); Eden Court, Inverness (15-19 May), Edinburgh Festival Theatre (23-31 May) and Belfast Grand Opera House (28 - 30 June). Tickets are available from the Scottish Opera website.
