John's new production of Handel's Semele for Scottish Opera opened at the Theatre Royal, Glasgow on 19th February 2005 to rapturous applause. Conductor - Christian Curnyn, Director - John La Bouchardière, Set & lighting - Giuseppe di Iorio, Costumes - Magali Gerberon. Semele - Lisa Milne, Jupiter - Jeremy Ovenden, Ino/Juno - Susan Bickley, Cadmus/Somnus - Michael George, Iris - Kate Royal.
This production will be revived by The Florentine Opera (Milwaukee, USA) in 2009.
Jemery Ovenden with the Scottish Opera chorus in baroque heaven
"One of the wittiest Handel stagings of recent times... La Bouchardière could be the biggest talent to emerge since David McVicar."
The Financial Times ****
"La Bouchardière's first big show and he certainly makes something of it. It is rare to see a director brave enough to use stillness and gesture like this... A beguiling evening of nearly endless pleasure."
The Times ****
Lisa Milne and Susan Bickley in an oratorio-style first act
Lisa Milne in Endless Pleasure
Lisa Milne as a god-like Semele
"John La Bouchardière's production was one of those simple ideas that come off perfectly... Stylish, theatrical and inventive."
The Independent ****
"Handel would undoubtedly have relished what was one hell of a show. The three and a half hours passed in a flash. Magnificent."
Opera
"Wonderful singing and acting... Masterly flashes of humour... An ingenious way to make subtle comment on their lack of funding from the Scottish Executive."
Opera Now
"John La Bouchardière's production plays beautifully and he plays beautifully with his audience."
The Scotsman
Kate Royal and the Chorus
"John La Bouchardière grasps this tale and shakes a flamboyant, joyfully creative production from its baroque bones. There are moments of pure ecstacy, where musical, dramatic and design elements meet in that rare perfection that makes opera the great sensory-bashing experience it should be."
Scotland on Sunday
"Brilliant entertainment"
The Stage
Lisa Milne and Jeremy Ovenden
Susan Bickley as Juno
Kate Royal as Iris
"A supremely confident piece of staging... it is a strong political statement... stage feisty international-class opera rather than foosty parochial concerts. If ever Scottish Opera needed a big, spectacular showpiece... Semele is not only a sumptuous piece of spectacle, it is a very witty telling of the story... a must-see production for all."
Edinburgh Evening News
"Splendid staging... world-class directing"
Daily Mail
Susan Bickley as the jubilant Juno
Lisa Milne and Jeremy Ovenden in Act III
Michael George as Somnus awoken by Iris, goddess of the Rainbow
John will be back at Scottish Opera later in 2006 for Handel's Tamerlano, again collaborating with baroque specialist conductor, Christian Curnyn, Gideon Davey (set & costumes) and Giuseppe Di Iorio (lighting).
The cast is as follows: Max Cencic (Tamerlano), Tom Randle (Bajazet), Gail Pearson (Asteria), William Purefoy (Andronicus), Jennifer Johnston (Irene) and Jonathan Best (Leone). The productions opens at The Theatre Royal, Glasgow on 7th November 2006, later touring to The Festival Theatre, Edinburgh.
