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Longborough's own productions are not limited to Wagner, but have also included The Magic Flute (2002/5), Tosca (2003), Madama Butterfly(2004), Hansel and Gretel (2005), Rigoletto (2006), Carmen (2006) and The Little Sweep (2006).
Rigoletto 2006
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Craig Smith as Rigoletto, Lurelle Alefounder as Gilda,
Jim Heath as The Duke and Margaret Rapacioli as Giovanna/Maddalena
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"...Spartan in its staging in Longborough's theatre...director Richard Studer's production...benefits by concentrating our attention wholly on the drama....I have rarely seen a Rigoletto more touching in its climax, or better served by its principal singers." Chris Gray, OXFORD TIMES, June 2006
Carmen 2006
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Maria Soulis as Carmen, Gordon Wilson as Don Jose, Les Flanagan as Escamillo with members of the LFO chorus
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"As Carmen Maria Soulis gives the star performance of the evening. She well understands that everything -from delivery of her arias to her body language- must radiate fatal sexual attraction", Giles Woodforde, OXFORD TIMES, July 2006
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The Little Sweep 2006
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Aidan Smith, Hugo Docking and Chris Jacobsen as Sweeps. Tom and Charlotte Ooi (Miss Baggott
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“I did much enjoy its (Longborough Festival Opera’s) version of Britten’s delightful children’s opera The Little Sweep, arranged by its education department under the direction of Maria Jagusz. …the kids’ exuberant singing and the band’s lively playing under the direction of Christopher Broom contributed to my pleasure” Rupert Christiansen, The Daily Telegraph
“The opera buzzed with activity from an excellent troupe of children …” Christopher Morley, Opera Magazine
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Hansel and Gretel 2005
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Maria Jagusz as Hansel , Jane Streeton as Gretel, and Jenny Miller as the Witch (2005). Photos by Steven Wright
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"Hansel and Gretel has huge psychological resonances and Longborough Festival Opera's thoughtful new production directed by Alan Privett does not shirk from exploring them."
Christopher Morley, BIRMINGHAM POST, July 2005
"It's adult quality opera ... spinning Humperdinck's prettified Wagnerian spells, the conductor Paul McGrath guides the Longborough Festival Opera, an unprecedented 47-strong, to a soft-focused but lucid view of their composer's shifting contrapuntal colour; and from Longborough's enlarged Bayreuth-style pit rises a generosity of sound ..." Derek Jole, OXFORD TIMES, July 2005
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The Magic Flute 2002 and 2005
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Magic Flute 2002 with Benjamin Bland as Papageno; Sarah Gabrielle, Yvonne Fontane and Tamsin Dalley as Ladies of the Night; Laure Meloy as Queen of the Night. Photographs by Colin Willoughby.
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"Conductor Robert Dean kept the pace flowing towards a brilliant conclusion and the orchestra fired the soundtrack to this visual feast" Anne Dunn, GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO, June 2005
"Alan Privett's thoughtful production moved intelligently across Jens Demant Cole's resourceful set." Christopher Morley, BIRMINGHAM POST, June 2005
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Madama Butterfly 2004
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"..Jonathan Lyness conducted with passion and sensitivity, the festival orchestra played with finesse. Melinda Hughes had vocal power and sustained emotional impact, delivered with expressive understanding” -
Michael Kennedy – SUNDAY TELEGRAPH– July 2004
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Tosca 2003
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"David Barrell, as Cavaradossi, and Simon Neal, as Scarpia, merged their considerable acting powers seamlessly with song of gold-seal quality ...(Jenny) Miller looking beautiful and tragic, moved through soft vocal registers into a heart-stirring version of her aria" Derek Jole, OXFORD TIMES 2003
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LFO Collaborations
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Past seasons have also featured collaborations with other companies as for Cosi fan tutte (2003) with Visible Music and LFO commissions from The Opera Project such as La Boheme (2005).
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This production is carried by a racy English translation, by splendid acting and, of course, by Mozart. Of the fine-voiced six-member cast, Carol Rowlands takes the prize ... David Murphy (conductor) brings out the best of the company in what is the highlight of a very successful Longborough Festival Opera." Gordon Parsons - MORNING STAR -2003
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