Morning:
14°c
Some fares could fall by more than a third when Oyster is extended to every national rail station in London, it has emerged
More...
New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
Critic rating
Reader rating
You want a beautifully lit set, dripping with chiaroscuro mystery? Roll right up. Fabulous singing? Step this way, ladies and gentlemen. Some not-so-fabulous singing as well? We have that, too. And you'd like some horrific conducting? It's a deal.
Yes, this revival of David McVicar's handsome production of Mozart's Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) is a mixed bag.
On the plus side, Paule Constable's lighting, with its mysterious beams shooting into dark spaces, is as glorious as ever. And McVicar's mix of 18th-century tropes and sly modern references proves a reliably thoughtful take on Mozart's Masonic fairy tale.
With his gorgeous voice and Mozartian elegance, tenor Pavol Breslik as Tamino is pure gold, and Christopher Maltman (Papageno) and Kishani Jayasinghe (Papagena) are delightful, too.
But with a vocally and theatrically insecure Queen Of The Night, Three Boys who can't act and some train-wreck conducting from Roland Boer, the evening often lollops into disaster.
For many, soprano Royal (Pamina) will provide the antidote - and there's no doubting her meltingly rich sound and excellent acting. But she's chosen a full-on romantic approach, and I can't help feeling that classical simplicity would have been better.
In rep until Mar 1 (next perf tomorrow), Royal Opera House, Bow Street WC2, 7.30pm (Mar 1 7pm), mat Feb 23 12.30pm, £7 to £165 (limited availability). Tel: 020 7304 4000. www.royalopera.org Tube: Covent Garden
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
