Thomas Adès’s new opera The Tempest, commissioned by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, opened on 10 February to a rapturous reception by the audience and huge acclaim from the press. The reviews make fascinating reading (see Repertoire/Reviews). With future productions already in place in Strasbourg (Autumn 2004) and Copenhagen, the opera confirms Adès’s reputation as the most talented young composer in the UK today and looks set to enter the operatic repertory.
The composer conducted an all-star cast that includes Simon Keenlyside (Prospero), Ian Bostridge (Caliban), Philip Langridge (King of Naples), Toby Spence (Ferdinand), Stephen Richardson (Stephano), Christopher Maltman (Sebastian), John Daszak (Antonio), Christine Rice (Miranda) and the coloratura soprano Cyndia Sieden (Ariel) in her Covent Garden debut. The libretto is by Meredith Oakes and the production is directed by Tom Cairns.