Photo Journal: Covent Garden Revives Thomas Ads's The Tempest

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Classic Arts News Photo Journal: Covent Garden Revives Thomas Ads's The Tempest When the Royal Opera House in London presented Thomas Ads's The Tempest in 2004, it was one of the most successful world premieres of an opera in years. The entire run sold out; the reviews ranged from respectful and encouraging (at their worst) to downright thrilled; audience reaction was ecstatic. The production went on to similar success in Strasbourg and Copenhagen, and Santa Fe Opera presented its own staging last summer for the work's U.S. premiere.

By Matthew Westphal, Matt Blank

March 14, 2007

Now the Royal Opera is presenting a revival of The Tempest, a very rare thing for a new opera. While the beguiling young soprano Kate Royal, playing Miranda, is new to the cast, most of the principals have returned to the roles they originated: Simon Keenlyside as a commanding Prospero, Philip Langridge as a mournful King of Naples, Toby Spence as an ardent Ferdinand, Ian Bostridge as a tormented, poetic Caliban. And coloratura dynamo Cyndia Sieden once again sings the spirit Ariel, whose vertiginous music she has to practice two octaves lower. Tom Cairns directs his original staging, and the composer himself conducts the Royal Opera House's orchestra and chorus.

The Tempest's encore run opened on Monday night (March 12); there are further performances tomorrow evening and on March 17, 20, 23 and 26. Details are available at www.royaloperahouse.org.

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All photos by Clive Barda for the Royal Opera House.

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