Telemaco Gluck

ENGLISH BACH FESTIVAL  SADLER’S WELLS

…Circe was originally to be Della Jones, but Lalandi, using her native connections, gave us in the Greek mezzo Marita Paparizou, a formidable performer with an almost contralto vibrato, who has two Queen-of-the-Night, barnstorming arias of tremendous power. Bereft of her crown, she looked like the heroine of a Michael Cacoyannis film; wearing her golden headgear she was sufficiently imperious to make one want to see and hear her as Medea, despite the higher register needed. She alone was worth the price of admission. …

Tom Rosenthal