Productions are in chronological order.
To read reviews, click on items in the left-hand column.
John Pascoe John Pascoe
review quotes 2003–17
2016/17 Italia, Un Sogno (CitySound & Events)
2013/14 Manon Lescaut (Minnesota Opera)
Lucrezia Borgia (DVD)
2012/13 Manon Lescaut (Washington National Opera)
Don Giovanni (Washington National Opera)
2011/12 Lucrezia Borgia (San Francisco Opera)
The Medium (Spoleto Festival, USA)
2010/11 Don Giovanni (Florida Grand Opera)
Don Giovanni (Dallas Opera)
2009 /10 Carmen (Palm Beach Opera)
Flora (Spoleto Festival USA)
2008 /09 Lucrezia Borgia (Washington National Opera)
Fidelio (Palm Beach Opera)
2007/08 Don Giovanni (Washington National Opera)
Ariodante (Spoleto Festival, Italy)
2006/07 Ercole su’l Termodonte (Spoleto Festival, Italy)
Cyrano (Michigan Opera Theater)
2006/05 Madama Butterfly (L’Opéra de Quebec)
Democracy: An American Comedy (world premiere) (Washington National Opera)
2005/06 Turandot (L’Opéra de Quebec)
2004/05 Manon Lescaut (Washington National Opera)
2003/04 Don Pasquale (Palm Beach Opera)
Don Giovanni (Washington National Opera)
La Provincia di Cosenza

‘Masterfully staged by the English director–designer John Pascoe, who has mounted an engaging show that revolutionises the language of opera.

’The talent of the artists chosen, the scenery, and the video projections pull together the multi-faceted puzzle of our history, offering a profound reflection of current events.’

Giornale di Brescia

‘A great success. An operatic concert filled with theatrical drama …

‘”Italia, Un Sogno” achieved its stated aim of giving birth to a new manner of presenting an operatic concert, rendering it attractive to both a less expert public as well as to the younger generation … For example, the Duke of Mantua from “Rigoletto” was transformed into a decadent Emperor of Ancient Rome …

‘The eighteenth century of Casanova with a touch of eroticism at the Venetian lagoon …

‘Undreamed of! With the intention of communicating “A tribute to the tradition of opera through the story of Italy”, every opera extract was placed in a completely unexpected locality and time, almost echoing the mannerisms of other modern day stage directors …

‘The arias and their staging were really surprising, totally unexpected and very impressive. …

‘The risk of a “post card” iconography was balanced by the interesting architectural composition of the scenes and by the effective choices of the stage director John Pascoe.’

Il Giorno

‘The tenor Vittorio Grigòlo brought real excitement to the stage of the Teatro Fraschini in Pavia, where he presented his “Italia, Un Sogno”, a tribute to the tradition of Italian opera …

‘Between innovative stage direction, costumes and a cast of 50 artists, the evening passed swiftly. The public didn’t want to leave!’

L’Arena di Verona

’Grigòlo enflames emotions with his Italian “dream”’

‘The eighteen imposing and elegant scenes of “Italia, Un Sogno”, the new theatrical event of Vittorio Grigòlo that started its Italian tour the other night in Verona’s Teatro Filarmonico, has demonstrated that it has all the cards in hand to impress the public, and not just that of Italy …

‘Vittorio Grigòlo has perfect appeal, natural charisma and talent for performing. The things that count most are evidently his “Italian” manner of singing, his young and brilliant tone of voice and the spontaneity and innate elegance of performance that creates in the listener the impression of hearing even the most famous arias as if for the first time …

‘The production finished with an authentic standing ovation, with repeated calls from the public, equally for the stage director and scenery designer John Pascoe … and for the large number of actors, dancers and chorus who had with both zeal and vivacity given such life to the eighteen imposing scenes of the program …

‘“Italia, Un Sogno” is without doubt an enjoyable, elegant and successful journey.’

La Reppublica

‘A pop event that tells the story of Italy via its most famous arias’

Gazzetta del Sud

‘Fourteen opera arias interpreted by various singers and actors, who were all skilfully coordinated by the English stage director John Pascoe …

‘The charisma, the voice and the stage presence of Grigòlo …

‘An event of international importance, absolutely not to be missed.’

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