<<  -- 8 --  Roderic Dunnett    SUMMER OPERA REVIEWS

The instrumental playing -- harp for Manrico's offstage serenading, oboe for Azucena's flashback aria, subtle semistaccato clarinet for the Count's subsequent plotting, and both for the nuns' appearance -- was often enough top-drawer. The dramatic rescue at the close of Act II was excitingly staged, and the gipsy's final collapse awsome. Even a brief glitch with the final curtain seemed trite when weighed against the skilful scene changes to Ian McKillop's well-judged set : Stowe's disciplined backstage crew deserve a medal.

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