L’assedio di Calais
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
This is the time of year, before the long hibernation of opera companies sets in, when there is sometimes a choice of several operas per night, many of them performed by the schools of music, which often seem to adopt the unintelligent course of having their performances on in the same week. This year, however, it is possible to go to the Guildhall School this week, the Royal Academy next week, with Semele conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras, and the Royal College the week after that to see The Magic Flute.
The Guildhall School’s choice of Donizetti’s L’assedio di Calais was a brave one: many opera-goers, myself intermittently included, tend to think of Donizetti’s historical operas as virtually interchangeable, and only to be borne if there is a star soprano in an important role.
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