REVIEWS ARCHIVE 2019
Alberich in Wagner's Das Rheingold
Longborough Festival Opera, 2019
The production was distinguished by singers of international quality. In the opening moments – when the dwarf Alberich comes lecherously across the Rhinemaidens – this becomes immediately obvious through the exceptional performance of baritone Mark Stone, who has a perfect voice for the part, and acting skills of the highest order. (The Daily Telegraph).
Some of the singing was absolutely first class, especially from Mark Stone, a revelation as Alberich (more Wagner from him please). (Mail on Sunday).
Darren Jeffrey is a physically imposing Wotan, outperformed by Mark Stone’s tremendous Alberich, in a performance worthy of any stage. (The Sunday Times).
Among the cast, Mark Le Brocq’s foppish, sardonic Loge and Mark Stone’s vocally authoritative Alberich stand out, managing to create stage personalities to match the strength of their musical ones. (The Guardian).
However, perhaps the most rounded portrayal was that of the Alberich of Mark Stone, who was outstanding vocally and visually, with his eyes frightening the audience as he cursed all with the loss of the ring. His portrayal with his deep baritonal quality is undoubtedly destined for a bigger stage. (Opera Spy).
Mark Stone, with his powerful baritone, arguably produces the strongest singing of the evening as Alberich. (Music OMH).
The singing is led by Mark Stone’s Alberich and Mark Le Brocq’s Loge. Both performances set a very high standard, Stone embracing Alberich’s dark soul with total conviction. (Classical Source).
Mark Stone … has moments of real vocal splendour. (The Arts Desk).
The roles are well cast, some portrayals more charismatic than others, and those which particularly caught my attention were Mark Stone's Alberich, twisted both physically and emotionally, Mark le Brocq's Loge, as louche as the MC in Cabaret, and Mae Heydorn's Erda, an arresting Arthur Rackham-ish vision. (Midlands Classical Music Making).
The standouts are Marc Le Brocq, vocally and visually on top form as a dandyish Loge, and Mark Stone, a scruffy but determined Alberich. (The Stage).
In a strong cast Mark Stone (Alberich), Mark Le Brocq (Loge) and Madeleine Shaw (Fricka) stood out. (The Article).
His curse on the ring was the highlight of Mark Stone’s roughhewn Alberich. (Seen and Heard).
More convincing was the nimble and dishevelled Mark Stone as Alberich, utterly persuasive in voice and single-minded ambition. (Opera Today).
The interpretation of Amy Lane puts the conflict between the god, Wotan, played by Darren Jeffery, and the Lord of the Nibelungs, Alberich (Mark Stone) at the core of the whole structure, especially clarified by their confrontations in the third and fourth scenes. Their acting and interpretation as character were as strong as their splendid vocal contributions. (Plays To See).
We have some particularly likeable baddies with Mark Stone’s mesmerising Alberich. (Arts Scene in Wales).
Gunther in Wagner's Götterdämmerung
Grand Théâtre de Genève, 2019
Mark Stone, the flawless baritone, is a Gunther whose stage presence and qualities of timbre and projection express more the nobility of the character than a malice that is hard to believe – and who manages to be heard in the end of Act II. / Mark Stone, impeccable baryton, est un Gunther dont la présence scénique et les qualités de timbre et de projection expriment davantage la noblesse du personnage qu’une veulerie à laquelle on a du mal à croire – et qui réussit à se faire entendre à la fin de l’acte II. (Forum Opera).
The baritone Mark Stone was a fantastic Gunther, with a solid instrument and a wonderful stage delivery. / El barítono Mark Stone fue un fantástico Gunther, con un sólido instrumento y una entrega escénica maravillosa. (Opera Actual).
Finally, let us salute the superb Gunther by Mark Stone who offers a beautiful baritone voice to his character. In the final trio of the second act, the evocation of revenge, associated with the roar of the brass, is admirable. / Saluons enfin le superbe Gunther de Mark Stone qui offer une très belle voix de baryton à son personnage Lors du trio final du deuxième acte, l’evocation de la vengeance, associée au grondement des cuivres, est admirable. (Bachtrack).
At this high level of singing only Mark Stone can keep up as Gunther. His powerful, dazzling baritone contrasts with the almost feeble character that he plays. / Auf diesem hohen Niveau des Gesangs kann nur noch Mark Stone als Gunther mithalten. Sein kraftvoller, blendend geführter Bariton steht im Widerspruch zu der fast schwächlichen Person, die er verkörpert. (O-Ton)
The baritone Mark Stone plays a solid and strongly musical Gunther. / Le baryton Mark Stone campe un Gunther solide et fort musical (Olyrix).
Mark Stone as Gunther, Tom Fox as Alberich and Jeremy Milner as the dark Hagen are excellent. / Mark Stone als Gunther, Tom Fox als Alberich und Jeremy Milner als finsterer Hagen sind exzellent. (Online Merker).
Elsewhere, and with a few exceptions, we must salute the precise characterization of each character, albeit secondary. From the Nornes to the Ondines, from Gutrune to Gunther (excellent Agneta Eichenholz and Mark Stone), this Ring is also distinguished by the details. / Ailleurs, et à quelques exceptions près, il faut saluer la caractérisation précise de chaque personnage, fût-il secondaire. Des Nornes aux Ondines, de Gutrune à Gunther (excellents Agneta Eichenholz et Mark Stone), ce Ring se distingue aussi par les détails. (Tribune de Genève).
Mark Stone and Agneta Eichenholtz easily carry off Gunther and Gutrune. / Mark Stone et Agneta Eichenholtz emportent sans peine l'adhésion en Gunther et Gutrune. (Le Courrier).
The British baritone Mark Stone embodies a Gunther more haughty than spineless, with a strong and well-projected voice. / La baryton britannique Mark Stone incarne un Gunther plus altier que veule, à la voix solide et bien projetée. (Opera Online).
Mark Stone's Gunther acquires the tragic stature of the victim of fate. / Le Gunther de Mark Stone acquiert la stature tragique de la victime du sort. (Crescendo).