Glyndebourne's Saul stole the summer and had critics raving. The Guardian (****) applauded virtuoso stagecraft from director Barrie Kosky in his debut production there, calling the show a theatrical and musical feast of energetic choruses, surreal choreography and gorgeous singing. For The Independent, which ranked it amongst five top classical and opera performances of 2015, there was no praise too high for the cast. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Ivor Bolton sparkles from the pit with period panache, and designer Katrin Lea Tag's exuberant costumes (The Times ****) set the Old Testament story in Handel's time, with a witty twinge of the contemporary.
Cast
Ivor Bolton
Conductor
Lucy Crowe
Merab
Sophie Bevan
Michal
Christopher Purves
Saul/Apparition of Samuel
Iestyn Davies
David
Paul Appleby
Jonathan
Benjamin Hulett
Abner/High Priest/Amalekite/Doeg
John Graham-Hall
Witch of Endor
Alison Bury
Orchestra Leader
Jeremy Bines
Chorus Master
Otis-Cameron Carr
Dancer
Robin Gladwin
Dancer
Ellyn Hebron
Dancer
Thomas Herron
Dancer
Merry Holden
Dancer
Edwin Ray
Dancer
Crew
Barrie Kosky
Director
François Roussillon
Director
Lionel Martin
Director of Photography
George Bruell
Producer
Katrin Lea Tag
Production Design
Jean Chatauret
Sound Supervisor
Joachim Klein
Lighting Design
Mireille Faure
Music Producer
Georg Friedrich Händel
Music
Charles Jennens
Lyricist
Otto Pichler
Choreographer
Romain Gendrot
Production Manager
Sandra Walger
Production Manager
Ivor Bolton
Conductor