Michael Tanner

The axeman cometh

Maria Stuarda; Rusalka<br /> Opera North, in Leeds and on tour until July Carmen<br /> Royal Opera House, until 26 June

Maria Stuarda; Rusalka
Opera North, in Leeds and on tour until July

Carmen
Royal Opera House, until 26 June

Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda is most celebrated for the apocryphal meeting of Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth, in which Mary descends to some coarse insults, backed up, in Antony McDonald’s new production for Opera North, by the use of a riding whip — Elizabeth has one, too, and the two queens do get quite physical.

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