Il trovatore reviews

Opera Holland Park's 2008 season opened in roaring style. Pulling wildly ambitious operas out of a minuscule hat has become one of OHP's best annual conjuring tricks. No opera seems to defeat this burgeoning enterprise. Katarina Jovanovic (Leonora) can certainly scale the necessary vocal heights. So too can Rafael Rojas, impressive as Manrico. Anne Mason's Azucena..powerfully sung, Stephen Gadd as Conte di Luna nicely combined eloquence and anger. The Anvil Chorus was stirring, as were all the big ensembles. Conductor Brad Cohen drew sturdy playing from the City of London Sinfonia.
Fiona Maddocks, Evening Standard.

Brad Cohen's conducting is all fire and steel. Rafael Rojas' macho, thrilling Manrico is pitted against Stephen Gadd's super-subtle Di Luna and Anne Mason gives a tremendous performance as Azucena, rising to genuinely tragic heights.
Tim Ashley, The Guardian

The opening production by John Lloyd Davies of Verdi's Il trovatore was a good start to what promises to be an outstanding season. Katarina Jovanovic sings beautifully… It's a fine performance, well-acted and sung with requisite passion and sympathy. Anne Mason…a star reading with real back-bone and drive.
Michael Darvell, Classicalsource.com.

Anne Mason's Azucena is among the best sung and most subtly inflected I have heard. Here's an Azucena who excited with the impulse of the words. She's classy and touching; her singing comes from somewhere.
Edward Seckerson, The Independent

The orchestra rose to some excellent playing, particularly in the final act, and there was fine solo work from the woodwind. Anne Mason was impressive. She placed Azucena firmly as the central, and most human character, as Verdi himself had perceived her.
Hugo Shirley