Vanessa, March 2016

Brickhouse Theatre Company/Iambe Opera

A trail blazing production of Samuel Barber’s rarely staged opera at the Brickhouse Theatre in Cambridge in March 2016, with professional leads and a university choir chorus. As a Samuel Barber afficionado in my teens, this was the first opera I ever got to know, so it was a pleasure to co-direct it with Judith Lebiez. Designed by Trui Malten. Production photographs by Onur Pinar.

Read my programme notes here, and my recordings guide here.

Vanessa – Cecilia Jane Bailey

Anatol – Will Searle

Erika – Judith Lebiez

Baroness – Susie Self

Doctor – Samuel Hewitt

Nicholas (Major-Domo) – Barney Wolstenholme

Musical Direction - Naomi Woo

Reviews:

The Tab - Luke Dell (4.5 stars)

“Flawless rendition of Samuel Barber’s award winning opera.”

“Not only did this production exceed my expectations and preconceptions, it absolutely smashed them… This show was consistently stunning and full to the brim with intense emotion and unbelievably powerful performances."

"The staging too was excellent, with very good use of the full auditorium."

“...a fantastic show, which delved deep into the human heart.”