Welsh National Opera at the Milton Keynes Theatre
Hairy McMungo has often wished that Scottish Opera would include London in its tours but unfortunately this would be very expensive. So instead he must put up with Welsh productions but he has to admit they are actually quite good. In the case of L’elisir d’amore it did help of course that the great Rory Macdonald (Hairy does not think he needs to tell you where he comes from) conducted the early performances. Although Simon Phillippo takes over just in time for Hairy to miss Rory, the Scottish spirit among the musicians remains.
The cast is all Welsh apart from the Australian but Hairy doesn’t think you should let this put you off. After all Nemorino is far too stupid to be Scottish and a Scottish Adina could never have remained unmoved by Nemorino’s newfound riches. Tenor Wynne Evans captures Nemorino’s imbecility perfectly and his singing is excellent. Camilla Roberts is adept at Adina’s haughtiness and when she finally realises she fancies Nemorino their love scene is very touching. However Hairy would prefer it if he liked her a bit more earlier on. Nearly all Adinas have this problem of course but Nemorino is such a nice lad even when he’s Welsh, Hairy can’t help thinking he deserves someone nicer.
Simon Thorpe and Neal Davies aren’t bad as Belcore and Dulcamara but Hairy can’t help wondering if maybe they should have switched roles. It’s true that Davies’ much bigger, more bass-sounding voice is the sort of voice you’d expect a Dulcamara to have and whilst Hairy is of course not attracted to Thorpe in the slightest, he does wear Belcore’s uniform well. But Hairy has seen Thorpe as a delightful Papageno and he thinks his effortless energy and humour would suit a role like Dulcamara very well and Davies is very good at being up himself in a very serious, superior sort of way and this would suit Belcore. Rememember, Hairy McMungo knows.
The set is kind of gold and orange and Hairy McMungo likes it. It reminds him of money.
HAIRY McMUNGO
I'm afraid you've got it wrong ..... Donald Maxwell sang Dulcamara that night not Neal Davies who was off sick !