Ribeiro's thrilling voice brought a sense of awe and beauty to this musical experience. The soprano Sue Black once more wowed the audience with her voice in the role of Elisabeth of Valois. Her final duet with Bruno Ribeiro almost reduced me to tears. This was vintage Verdi with first class singing from the chorus and magnificent playing from the indefatigable orchestra. William Bell on the conductor's rostrum has once more achieved a musical miracle.xxxxxxxxxxxRoger Jones 

  

 Bel Canto Opera was founded by the Music Director WILLIAM BELL in 1989. In 1995 TOM BOYD joined the company as producer/stage director/librettist. Productions since then include:

(click on buttons for pictures, info, to watch YouTube clips and to read critics’ reviews) 

DOCTOR MIRACLE by Bizet 1996
TROUBLE IN TAHITI by Bernstein 1996
THE IMPRESARIO by Mozart 1997
AMELIA GOES TO THE BALL by Menotti 1997
TOSCA by Puccini 1998*
RIGOLETTO by Verdi 1999*
HANSEL AND GRETEL by Humperdinck 1999*
LAKME by Delibes 2001*
MARTHA by Flotow 2002*
THE ELIXIR OF LOVE by Donizetti 2003*
THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR by Nicolai 2004*
DON PASQUALE by Donizetti 2005*
THE MAGIC FLUTE by Mozart 2007*
* DVD or video recordings (PAL or NTSC) of a live performance of these productions can be ordered. Click for details.

Three saucy airs from the comic operas DON PASQUALE, THE ELIXIR OF LOVE and THE MAGIC FLUTE

In 2005 the Cheltenham Arts Council awarded Tom Boyd the Opera Cup for innovation and interpretation of operas

William Bell received a citation for services to opera over the past thirty years.

More about Bel Canto Opera

the OXFORD TIMES interview with Tom Boyd, Feb. 2007

 

the WILTS. & GLOUCESTERSHIRE ECHO profile on Tom Boyd, 2002

 

News and reviews of the VERDI concert performances in Cheltenham:

xxxxxIl Trovatore (2001) xxx Nabucco (2002) xxx A Masked Ball (2003)xxx Aida (2006)xxxxThe Force of Destiny (2008)XXXXDon Carlos (2009)

 

xConcert dedicated to the memory of Luciano PAVAROTTI, Nov. 2008 X

 

Tom Boyd and William Bell’s productions for Malvern Hills Opera

Norma by Bellini xxxxxxxx The Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach

Tom Boyd's Home Page -------------LINKS