Previous productions by HGO:
"To find Idomeneo staged upstairs at a north London pub by a small, deeply impressive company from Hampstead - in a production that would not have disgraced ENO or WNO - took one by surprise." [...] "Look out eagerly for the same company's comic L'elisir d'Amore in the autumn.!" – Roderic Dunnett for "Early Music Today Magazine".
"Hampstead Garden Opera was founded by Roy Budden in 1990. It has mounted more than 30 productions, usually two a year with young professionals. This Idomeneo is its 11th Mozart staging, and, I dare say, the boldest. Idomeneo is a massive undertaking for a company with slender resources and mostly reliant on individual patrons. Hampstead offered excellence in every department." – Roderic Dunnett for "Opera Magazine". Read the full review
"It's gratifying to be able to report that Hampstead Garden Opera's interpretation was thoroughly enjoyable. It was even tempting to return another evening. The well lit production was thought-provoking, the singing of a uniformly high standard, and the orchestral playing well up to previous high levels" – Edmund Gordon for "The Buzz".
"A small-scale production which suited the piece very well. Musical support was excellent with a good balance between the orchestra and the stage. Outstanding chorus work complemented some memorable prinicipal performances. One of the best productions of this work I have seen." – Paul Holgate for "NODA".
Reviews of this production included:
“...Combined with some of opera's most memorable tunes, the result is a production that's as relevant to our lives today as it was when it was written more than 200 years ago... For anyone new to opera, daunted by the high art of Covent Garden's Royal Opera House, judging by this show, Hampstead Garden Opera could prove an ideal introduction. It's neither high-budget nor slick as they come, but you couldn't really call this an amateur production, so professional were the performers... Eccentric costumes mixing opulent ballgown with neon futurist punk dispel any last notion of opera as stuffy...” - Camden New Journal, 26 April 2007
“...Musically it was sublime as always... On this occasion we were blessed with the very best once more...” – NODA, April 2007
Reviews of this production included:
“This production is evidence that, in its 16th year, HGO has established itself as a major cultural asset of north London, a showcase of the musical riches that we have in our community.” - Camden New Journal, 9 November 2006
“Another magnificent performance by my top opera company who just go on getting better and better” – NODA
