National Operatic and Dramatic Association Selected highlights from the report on: Cavalleria Rusticana & I Pagliacci 10 November 2005 St Alban’s Arena

“A well set opening chorus with lots of bustle and children running around naturally worked well. I loved the scrubber of the church steps! There was an excellent balance of voices in the ladies-only bits of the chorus.”

“Putting Santuzza in front of the scrim for the Easter Hymn and the chorus as if in the church worked very well – emphasising Santuzza’s vunerability and alienation and allowing the chorus to see the conductor and hear the orchestra.”

“The final dramatic moment of Turridu’s body being carried on in silhouette was beautiful.”

“Stuart Harding gave a most believable Tonio, managing the hunchback without overdoing it, displaying excellent diction and variety of tone.”

“The production of both operas bore the stamp of Yvonne Harding’s skill as director particularly with the use of the ladies chorus and the extras”

Report by Dorothy Lawson
Area Councillor, NODA London