'OPERA' magazine on premiere of Coleridge-Taylor's 'Thelma': ' A good standard has been set for future productions'

[“The premiere of Coleridge-Taylor 'Thelma' in Croydon, with (l. to r.) Rhonda Browne (Gudrun), Alberto Sousa (Eric), Joanna Weeks (Thelma) and Hakan Vramsmo (Carl)” (Photo: OPERA Magazine)]

Sergio Mims writes:

“I've sent you the review from OPERA Magazine of that recent performance of Coleridge-Taylor's opera Thelma.”

AfriClassical presents a brief excerpt from the review, including a photo of the cast on stage:

OPERA Magazine

April 2012

John Allison

“Surrey Opera at the Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, February 11

“Cowell's production was sensibly straightforward and kept the action (even the amateur chorus) moving in Bridget Kimak's naturalistic designs, and her stage – dominated by a wintry, bent-back tree like something out of a Segantini painting, and a giant, upturned helmet -suggested a rocky shore. Joanna Weeks gave a committed account of the title role: the rivals for Thelma's hand were sung by Alberto Sousa as Eric (whose clear, clean tenor was the best voice of the evening) voice of the evening and Hakan Vramsmo as Carl, and there was solid support from Rhonda Browne (Gudrun, Thelma's companion), Oliver Hunt (the evil, snuff-pushing Djaevelen) and Tim Baldwin (King Olaf). A good standard has been set for future productions, with the Pegasus Opera Company due to follow in the autumn.”

[Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) is featured at AfriClassical.com. Major observances of the Centennial of his death are underway and are the work of organizations including the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Foundation, http://www.sctf.org.uk]