5½ years after work began on the opera it has finally happened. Two performances at Aldeburgh on June 13 and 14 with a superb cast, wonderfully directed by Rachael Hewer with exceptional designs by Leanne Vandenbussche. The Aurora orchestra and Jessica Cottis were outstanding.
The picture above shows the rehearsal set with Susanna Hurrell (Natalie/Nadia), Marcus Farnsworth (Marcus/Misha), Edward Hawkins (Gregor), Lotte Betts-Dean (Vanessa/Varia) and Gary Matthewman (Chris, rehearsal pianist). Below, Lotte Betts-Dean and Marcus Farnsworth in the Russian summer house set. Photographs by Richard Hubert Smith.
A Visit to Friends has been widely reviewed, including in The Observer, where I was delighted to see that Shosty the dog received rave reviews for his performance as Chekhov’s dog!
