On 19 June, Grange Park Opera opened their new production of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Ivan the Terrible (or The Maid of Pskov), directed by David Pountney and conducted by Mikhail Tatarnikov.
Following his company debut with Grange Park Opera in 2019 as Monk Don Carlo (“David Shipley impressed, resonant and full of authority” - Opera Magazine), British bass David Shipley has been acclaimed by critics for his role debut as Prince Tokmakov:
“the finest vocal performance comes from David Shipley, the young former Royal Opera/Jette Parker bass, as Olga’s presumed father, Prince Tokmakov”
Hugh Canning, Sunday Times
"Singing nobly as Prince Tokmakov, David Shipley takes the latest step on a promising career trajectory."
Richard Fairman, Financial Times
"David Shipley was in sovereign voice as Prince Tokmakov"
Melanie Eskenazi, Music OMH
"…the highest compliment I can give to Carl Tanner as her rebellious sweetheart Tucha, and David Shipley (a real clarion of a bass) as her father, is that I initially assumed that they, too, were Russian"
Richard Bratby, The Spectator
"…others in a male-dominated cast excel, especially David Shipley as the mayor of Pskov. A charismatic performance from a young man who will go far."
David Mellor, Daily Mail
"David Shipley’s velvety tones grace her honourable adoptive father"
Yehuda Shapiro, The Stage
"David Shipley’s authoritative bass was well suited to Prince Tomakov"
Mark Pullinger, Bachtrack
“David Shipley as Prince Tokmakov was perhaps slightly too young for the role but compensated with some spectacular bass singing and the sort of commanding stage presence needed for the governor. He managed to be proper but sympathetic too.”
Robert Hugill, Opera Today
"Clive Bayley is in fine voice as Stalin / Ivan the Terrible, as is David Shipley as the sympathetic Prince Tokmakov."
Vera Liber, British Theatre Guide
"David Shipley is excellent as Prince Tokmakov, the Mayor of Pskov who has to cope with the monster in his midst"
Christopher Walker, London News Online
Ivan the Terrible runs until 14 July - read more about the production here.
Photo credit: Marc Brenner