Ryedale District Council supports the Ryedale Festival.

YORKSHIRE POST - 24th July, 2009 - by David Denton

Probably with little more than the champagne budget at London's Royal Opera House, Ryedale Festival Opera have put together a wonderfully entertaining production of Kodály 's comedy, Háry János, an opera rarely staged outside of Hungary, but here an utter triumph for Ryedale.

Háry is a fantasist who likes to tell stories down at his local pub, but this one, the tallest yet, which he brings vividly to life, as he tames the wildest horse in the world, single-handedly defeats Napoleon and as a reward is offered the hand of Princess Marie-Louise.  But Háry asks for nothing more than a return to his peasant home, and to his beloved Örzse.

Having heard this outrageous story, his friends depart, yet if it was make-believe why does he still have the royal gift?  With a cast of just eight, who change costumes at a speed and frequency that seems to treble their number, this is a fast-moving production from Joe Austin, excellently engineered scene changes performed by the cast.

It was not just a team of first-class singers, but one whose sheer vivacity and visual enjoyment they communicated to the audience, Riccardo Simonetti's powerful and swaggering Háry, Melanie Lang as the spoilt Princess, and Clare McCaldin as Örzse making an excellent trio of principals.

Justin Doyle, the festival's artistic director, conducted an outstanding bijou orchestra that packed the weight of one five times as large.

Hovingham Hall, Friday 17th and Sunday 19th July.