“Conductor Ben Woodward somehow managed to create the impression of a Strauss orchestra with five (sic., there were 7...) unbelievably Stakhanovite instruments. I won’t forget this in a hurry. 5 stars.”
“Woodward paced the opera with a fine sense for the need to sustain both mood and momentum, while savouring the episodes of transformation and transcendence. ”
“Woodward guided his forces through Wagner’s wise comedy with flair, insight and the fluency of a page-turner. The Meistersinger life-enhancing magic was out in force”
“Woodward, Fulham Opera’s artistic director, paced and shaped the drama to powerful effect…there was real poetry”
“Woodward did a marvellous job of shaping instrumental detail, while being unfailingly attentive to his singers, and his sense of pace made the narrative arc of Verdi’s most singular opera crystal clear.”