Bluebeard's Castle & Oedipus Rex

Welsh National Opera

Cardiff, Wales

“The WNO orchestra performs stunningly well for Yankovskaya. The voices are never overwhelmed, yet the playing has a dark, brooding power in Bluebeard and an abrasive punchiness in Oedipus.”
–The Times

“Bound by the authoritative conducting of Yankovskaya, who brought Bartók’s eloquence to the fore, and found playful moments as well as grave solemnity in the Stravinsky, this was strong stuff.
–The Guardian

“Bluebeard was conducted with tension and rigour by Yankovskaya. One can only regret that the power of her orchestral rhetoric is not reflected…As WNO’s blazing orchestra plays the living hell out of Bartók’s score, the ears hear inferno…”
–Bachtrack

“At the musical helm was Yankovskaya, clearly at home with both musical idioms and able the inspire WNO’s Orchestra to its highest standards.”
–Opera Now

"Both pieces are demanding to play – especially the grandiose Bartók, with its vast scoring including many extra instruments. The musicians of WNO’s orchestra are on top of everything, while Yankovskaya makes a strongly positive impression with her decisive musical leadership.”
–The Stage

“Yankovskaya kept things gripping in the pit, elegant in the quieter passages and meaty where the punch needs to be delivered, and the orchestra played with real distinction all evening.”
–Art Scene in Wales

“The musicianship coming out of the pit with Yankovskaya at the reigns was impressive. The Bartók sounded crisp and thumping, leading into Stravinsky’s take on Greek tragedy, with its frequent, boisterous collages typical of the Russian composer...”
–Buzz Magazine

“It says a great deal for the brilliance of this Bluebeard that, with not a door in sight, we nevertheless remain riveted from start to finish of this richly disturbing masterpiece. Yankovskaya controls the pace and colour of the sombrely radiant score with a sure hand. As one exits through the theatre door oneself, it takes time to recover one’s sang froid… In the new Oedipus Rex…there is consolation, as ever, in much fine orchestral playing under Yankovskaya.”
–The Arts Desk