London Philharmonic Orchestra

“The different scenes are beautifully devised by William Dudley...Ryland Davies is a clear-toned Belmonte, with Valerie Masterson sweet, true and agile, singing at her peak...Lillian Watson is charming as Blonde, pertly defying the will of the magnificent Osmin of Willard White...[the staging] is a model of traditional perfection.” Penguin Guide, 2010 ****

“One of Glyndebourne's most elegant 1980s productions finally reaches DVD, with a superb ensemble cast and Gustav Kuhn's crisply stylish conducting, modern instruments but full score. Valerie Masterson's Constanze is visually and vocally delectable… Ryland Davies is a plangently passionate Belmonte, well contrasted with James Hoback's vulnerable college-kid Pedrillo. As a bass-baritone the young Willard White may underpower Osmin's terrifying lower Cs and Ds, but the voice is so rich and the characterisation to formidable he carries the day - although meeting his match in Lillian Watson's sexy Blonde, crystal-voiced, unexaggerated and wonderfully funny. It could hardly look more ravishing, though, in Bill Dudley's airy settings, radiant with Turkish atmosphere and colour...” BBC Music Magazine, October 2005

“Deliberately gloomy, it would be oppressive but for the imagination of Hall in his detailed direction with the superb Leporello of Stafford Dean unusually positive, and the whole performance heightened by the Mozartian strength of Bernard Haitink's conducting.” Penguin Guide, 2010 ***

“A notably stellar cast in Puccini's black comedy 'Gianni Schicchi'” BBC Music Magazine, Proms Issue 2005

“Glyndebourne has a first-rate lyric comedian in Alessandro Corbelli and a conductor who handles the music with feeling for its tenderness as well as its brio. The lovers, Sally Matthews and Massimo Giordano, bring fresh voices and good looks, and among the mean old relatives Felicity Palmer's brazen-voiced Zita is a joy. Small parts like the Notary's assistants the boy who brings the news that Gianni is on his way are played with relish, and even the corpse of Buoso Donati comes to life as he falls out of the cupboard where he has been bestowed and takes a brisk curtain-call at the end.” Gramophone Magazine, Awards Issue 2005

“Puccini's comic masterpiece comes in a production by Annabel Arden that determinedly underlines the black side of this sparkling farce...[Jurowski] also emphasizes that point...Corbelli proves a masterly Schicchi, at once characterful, funny and sinister” Penguin Guide, 2010 edition ***