music
March 27, 2026
Tamerlano review
Shoreditch Town Hall, LondonOrpha Phelan’s fun but confusing staging for the London Handel festival aligns the opera’s characters with recognisable famous figures. Fine singers and players led by Laurence Cummings ensure consistent musical excellence
TL;DR
- Tamerlano, an opera from 1724, is praised for its emotional depth and character development.
- The opera's plot centers on Emperor Tamerlano's desires, involving Bajazet, his daughter Asteria, and other conflicted characters.
- A modern staging by Orpha Phelan aligns characters with recognizable figures, intending to simplify the backstory.
- This conceptual staging, while amusing, leads to incomprehensible character motivations and a reduced sense of danger.
- Despite the staging's shortcomings, the musical performance, led by Laurence Cummings and the Academy of Ancient Music, is of high quality, with the cast delivering strong performances.