“The role of the stalwart, anti-violence professor Michele was assumed with great aplomb by Leonardo Caimi. While his peacenik presence among all this carnage may seem too good to be true, Mr. Caimi’s gleaming tenor was conversely the real deal. His lustrous vocalizing was alternately sweet and potent, as required, and his pleasant stage demeanor was perfect for this personage who really wants to calm the waters. The scene of his arrest, when his goodness is methodically demonized by Nazi’s, was a heart-wrenching highpoint of the piece.” James Sohre
"A wonderfully confident piece of music theatre, certainly nothing like any contemporary opera which I have recently experienced"
"Extraordinary that with only 10 musicians there should be such orchestral richness… a swinish pearl of an opera”
Simon Wilding’s jet-black Hunding proved the perfect foil to Volsung Lenz, another considered and highly dramatic portrayal.
Amy Ní Fhearraigh, noticeably taller than Mangan, acted her part superbly. Her silky tones entwined beautifully with that of Mangan in the Evening Prayer. Both Ben McAteer and Miriam Murphy made much of their roles, Murphy possessing impeccable comic timing. Her hasty return for her chicken nuggets and her quarter pounder burger before searching for her children was as hilarious as it was anachronistic.
★★★★★ “Of the moment, full of character and rich in variety, these short filmed operas by 20 Irish composers and top performers are exemplary lockdown music-making” - The Guardian