Scottish's Opera's latest triumph features 3 RA artists: conductor Stuart Stratford, Ji-Min Park as Alfredo Germont and Phillip Rhodes as Giorgio Germont. Critics have highly praised the production, directed by David McVicar:
“Phillip Rhodes brings gravitas to the role of Alfredo’s bourgeois father”
Simon Thompson, The Times
“Among the superb supporting cast, baritone Phillip Rhodes shines as Alfredo’s father, the wretched blackmailer Giorgio Germont. The New Zealander is every inch the symbol of a French bourgeois morality that, while seemingly upright, is degraded and duplicitous.”
Mark Brown, The National (Scotland)
“The cast of principals is excellent... Philip Rhodes, another returnee from recent ScotOp successes, contributes a very nuanced Germont, in his shifts between ramrod correctness and emotional honesty during Act 2.”
Keith Bruce, The Herald Scotland
“Philip Rhodes sang a fine Germont, his grey-edged baritone perfect for his steely soft power approach.”
David Smythe, Bachtrack****
“Phillip Rhodes impresses as Giorgio Germont, perfectly portraying the characters emotional arc”
Lauren Humphreys, The Reviews Hub*****
Making his Scottish Opera debut, Ji-Min Park was a well-matched Alfredo, joyous in the brindisi, lovesick and angry later, his tenor tender and sweet, but able to turn on the power thrillingly.
David Smythe, Bachtrack ★★★★
Park is equally impressive, portraying a diffident young man in the opening scenes, who comes into his own as he first declares a toast to Violetta. But it is in Act II that he excels, first alone on stage with his sleeping lover, embodying Alfredo’s enrapture for her, and then in his fury when he receives the letter cutting him off.
Thom Dibdin, The Stage ★★★★
Ji-Min Park has an ardent tenor voice, but he sings Alfredo with power and little else, taking until the final act to find the lyricism in the love music.
Simon Thompson, The Times ★★★
Conductor Stuart Stratford brings out a good balance from the Orchestra of Scottish Opera between those ebullient party scenes and the intimate moments when the singers are alone on stage, ensuring that the vocal element is always paramount.
Thom Dibdin, The Stage ★★★★
In the pit, Stuart Stratford drove the music along with a keen ear for balance, the woodwinds having a great night. Verdi's score burst with exuberance
David Smythe, Bachtrack ★★★★
... the other consistently good part of the evening was the playing of Scottish Opera’s orchestra, finding colour and inspiration in a score that can suffer from over-familiarity. Stuart Stratford conducts them straightforwardly but clearly and, like McVicar’s production, he lets the drama flow naturally.
Simon Thompson, The Times ★★★
The orchestra of Scottish Opera, under the baton of Stuart Stratford, performs Verdi’s famous score with all the necessary heft and nuance. Dynamic, intelligent and emotionally scintillating, this seems sure to be a celebrated revival.
Mark Brown, The National
Performances run until 15th June at Theatre Royal Glasgow, His Majesty's Theatre in Aberdeen, Eden Court in Inverness, and Festival Theatre Edinburgh.
You can read more about the production here.
Photo credit: James Glossop
