Conducting the new production of Glyndebourne's first ever Rigoletto, Thomas Blunt has been praised for his "verve and vigour" (The Telegraph) and the "sterling quality" (The Observer) he elicits from the musicians. The "fine young conductor" (The Times) has previously conducted Il barbiere di Siviglia, La cenerentola, Falstaff and L'elisir d'amore on the Glyndebourne Tour, with Rigoletto marking his first new production for the company, where he began his career as Chorus Master. Later this season, he makes his house debut at Royal Danish Opera with Idomeneo.
Performances run at Glyndebourne until 2 November, before touring England until 7 December 2019. Read the reviews below:
“Thomas Blunt directed the Glyndebourne Tour Orchestra like a true Verdi veteran: the tempos were always brisk; disfiguring rallentandos and soloistic acuti were banished; the drama emerged.” (Roger Parker, Opera Magazine)
"Thomas Blunt conducts a swift, clean account of the score... [with] verve and vigour." (Rupert Christiansen, The Telegraph)
"the fine young conductor Thomas Blunt" (Richard Morrison, The Times)
"Musically, the performance is tautly conducted by Thomas Blunt." (Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times)
"The Glyndebourne Tour Orchestra played well for Thomas Blunt, strings whipping up a frenzy in Rigoletto’s tortured “Cortigiani” aria." (Mark Pullinger, Bachtrack)
"Luckily, under the baton of Thomas Blunt, there was sterling quality in the orchestra, chorus and cast." (Fiona Maddocks, The Observer)
"From the Prelude on, Thomas Blunt’s conducting and the GT Orchestra made the score sound gratifyingly black and, however light and nuanced on its feet, weighed down with tragedy. The storm scene is gripping, and in general the pit drives the show." (Peter Reed, Classical Source)