Nevill Holt Opera / Léirmheasanna

"Rossini’s crazily complex ensembles go like the clappers throughout"

★★★★ "Rossini’s version of the Cinderella story is famed for not indulging in the magical and mystical elements of the fairytale, but so effective is Bowes’ portrayal (of Alidoro) that he automatically puts the character on a higher plane...the real secret to Bowes’ success is that he transports us to another place while still ultimately ‘keeping it real’. The same might be said of the production as a whole."

Peter Scott Drackley was a very robust and powerful tenor… which is extremely impressive at the top of the register. His climax to “Che gelida manina” is excellent as he sustains the high C in ‘Speranza’, and never gives any impression of wanting to come off the note at the earliest opportunity

With a rare combination of power and sensitivity, Peter Scott Drackley’s vocalism helps him achieve an intensely personal interpretation of Che Gelida Manina

Andri Björn Róbertsson was a delightfully slime-ball Don Basilio. Björn Róbertsson used his height and physical flexibility to maximum comic effect, which only served to heighten his contributions to the various ensemble and make his calumny aria a masterpiece of comic timing, combined with Björn Róbertsson's fabulously dark bass-baritone voice.

Of the main principals, however, the strongest performance comes from Grant Doyle, whose baritone is masterly and who cannot help but make us feel sorry for Dr Bartolo as all of his assertions on how he cannot be outwitted are proven wrong.