Profile reviews
3Smaller roles as.. Marullo (Jacob Phillips) are excellently filled in an evening that adds up to the most memorable of recent Rigolettos. The Telegraph - John Allison Opera Holland Park - Rigoletto 2023 Jacob Phillips makes a strong mark as Marullo.
But here, in the great OHP tradition, comes another interesting new talent: baritone Jacob Phillips in the small role of Marullo. He is still completing his studies, and sang in Carmen last year. Fingers crossed we will hear more of this fine voice from a strong stage presence.
Past Production Reviews
3Georgia Mae Ellis’s Cherubino was a boyish bumpkin, swapping his knitted tank top for army khakis. Ellis’s timing and tone were spot on – Cherubino’s offer to pretend that he hadn’t heard the Count’s prepositioning of Susanna was wonderfully droll – and she excelled in the moments of physical humour too, stumbling about in thick socks and red stilettos, or posing a menace with a rifle. ‘Non so più’ bubbled along, but ‘Voi che sapete’ was a knockout, as Cherubino found, momentarily but winningly, poise and maturity and emerged from adolescence into nascent adulthood.
'though for sheer vocal voluptuousness Georgia Mae Ellis's Mother Goose is hard to beat.'
Jacob Phillips’ Schicchi was at the center of the show, and demonstrated impeccable technique alongside impressive dramatic range. He’s slick and oily, with the hint of the playboy, and does Buoso’s voice to hilarious pantomime effect. He felt ruthless enough to defraud the dead, and charming enough to plead extenuating circumstances in the coda, bust of Dante in hand – a sharply-drawn and impressively crafted portrait.
