Glyndebourne's Saul stole the summer and had critics raving. The Guardian (****) applauded virtuoso stagecraft from director Barrie Kosky in his debut production there, calling the show a theatrical and musical feast of energetic choruses, surreal choreography and gorgeous singing. For The Independent, which ranked it amongst five top classical and opera performances of 2015, there was no praise too high for the cast. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under Ivor Bolton sparkles from the pit with period panache, and designer Katrin Lea Tag's exuberant costumes (The Times ****) set the Old Testament story in Handel's time, with a witty twinge of the contemporary.

Press Reviews "Musically this evening is well-nigh flawless. No praise too high for the singing of Davies, Appleby, and Purves; of Lucy Crowe and Sophie Bevan as Merab and Michal respectively, and of Benjamin Hullett as a cross between a clown and a soothsayer." (The Independent) "Barrie Kosky's first show for the company is a theatrical and musical feast of energetic choruses, surreal choreography and gorgeous singing ... Ivor Bolton conducts the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment with tremendous elan: theatrically and musically, this is one of Glyndebourne's finest shows of recent years." (The Guardian) "There is nothing safe about this show. It's a knockout that brings the work blazingly alive and transforms bewigged pieties into high human drama." (The Daily Telegraph) CastChristopher Purves (Saul)Iestyn Davies (David)Lucy Crowe (Merab)Sophie Bevan (Michal)Paul Appleby (Jonathan)Benjamin Hulett (High Priest) John Graham-Hall (Witch of Endor) Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; Ivor BoltonStage Director: Barrie KoskyDesigner: Katrin Lea TagChoreographer: Otto Pichler Catalogue Number: OABD7205DDate of Performance: 2015Sound: Dolby 2.0 and DTS 5.1 / LPCM & DTS Master Audio 5.1Aspect Ratio: 16:9Subtitles: EN/FR/DE/KOLabel: Opus Arte Review The production provided energetic, highly coloured entertainment. --Ft, 10/6/16 Pivotal is Christopher Purves's Saul-surely the father-in-law from hell ...Purves has always done rage and menace to born, but his slide into ever-deepening madness is terrifying for its visceral immediacy. Performance **** Picture & sound **** --BBC Music Magazine, Sept'16 Christopher Purves is utterly consumed by his role as Saul, which is the only Handel Title role sung by a bass. Iestyn Davies is vocally outstanding as David, with his customary melting melismas. --Opera,Jan'17