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Please click on a production to read reviews for that production. Use the scroll bar on the right hand side of your page to move up and down between reviews.
6. They'd none of 'em be missed.
11. Best of Gilbert and Sullivan Concert
14. Gwyneth and the Green Knight
1. The Mikado click to go back to menu
The Mikado‚ ENO
Guardian Unlimited (February 2008)
'He gives a disciplined performance that explores every conceivable strategy for depicting Ko-Ko’s infinite capacity for skin-saving self-humiliation. His "little list"‚ incidentally‚ includes MP David Conway‚ Nigella Lawson and ENO’s calamitous Kismet‚ though it will probably have changed by the next performance.'
The Mikado‚ ENO
Mail on Sunday (February 2008)
'Richard Suart’s brilliant Ko-Ko. Got up like Charlie Chaplin‚ his characterisation is a masterly display of all the worst British character flaws‚ from arrogance to obsequiousness. He has made the role his own‚ and unlike the people on his little list‚ newly re-written for this revival‚ Suart really would be missed.'
The Mikado‚ ENO
MusicalCriticism.com (February 2008)
'Richard Suart is an old hand at the role of Ko-Ko and once more brought considerable charisma and insight to the character‚ causing ripples of laughter for his re-writing of the ’Little List’ song.'
The Mikado – 2006 ENO.
‘Richard Suart is a joy as Ko-Ko.’
John Amis – The Tablet.
‘Suart has developed an entire gymnasium of contorted body language to express his guile, his anguish and his greed.’
Hilary Finch – The Times.
‘For me at least Suart with his magnificent comic timing and walk, a combination of Groucho Marx and Max Wall, was the runaway star.’
Peter Gruner – Camden New Journal.
‘Suart’s Ko-Ko may be approaching the limit of how much hamming-up one role can take, but it’s deservedly his show.’
Erica Jeal – The Guardian.
‘Since Suart changes the names regularly, they may well be different at the next show. But what won’t alter is the sheer quality and panache of his performance, which is a brilliantly sustained comic turn.’
George Hall – The Stage.
‘The fineness with which it is all judged is encapsulated in Ko-Ko’s famous list, here delivered with consummate panache by Richard Suart. I don’t know who compiles the list of dispensables who ‘won’t be missed’, but traditionally it is the singer himself. Suart is wonderful, taking the art of wincing to its limit, but knowing always where that is.’
Michael Tanner – The Spectator.
‘As Ko-Ko, baritone Richard Suart is so puke-makingly humble you want him sent for mercy killing! With a face so cheesily smarmy he makes Rowan Atkinson look paralysed; he effortlessly steals the show. You want live self-abasement? Well, this guy has it – in spades! Why, every dominatrix in the audience – male and female - must have been gagging at the prospect of this text-book slave!’
Fraulein Sasha Selavie – Gay Times.
English National Opera at the London Coliseum.
"Suart turns in one of his best performances as Ko-Ko. G&S is his stock-in-trade, we know, but the energy and comic precision of what he does comes so naturally that you are simply not aware of its skill. He’s a sharp mime and a sharp mimic (everything from Gordon Brown to Olivier’s Richard III)…"
Edward Seckerson: The Independent 7 April 2004
"As for Richard Suart’s Ko-Ko, what’s left to be said? He must be the most manically inventive G&S exponent of our era. Indeed, his impersonation of Olivier playing Richard III is worth the price of admission by itself. But it was when he added "George W. Bush’s poodle, whose name is Tony Blair" to Ko-Ko’s wishful list of those "who won’t be missed" that he brought the house down."
Richard Morrison: The Times 5 April 2004.
The Mikado for the Nationale Reisopera in Holland
"Richard Suart is de ideale operetteperformer…"
"…is Suart een entertainer van de eerste order."
"Voorop Richard Suart, een van Sullivans voornaamste profeten op aarde…"
de Volkskrant 22 March 2004
New York City Opera and ENO.
"
Above all there is Richard Suart as Ko-Ko, delivering his long little
list amply; Suart has developed the detail of his impersonation, performing
with irresistible inventiveness, amazing physical contortions, and exact
timing. Definitely an experience to catch".
London Evening Standard
"..an
unusually able comic as Ko-Ko".
New York Daily News
"Ko-Ko
was a fine singing comedian, Richard Suart, who moved as well as he patter-sang.
funny throughout."
Classics to-day, USA
"The
list was artfully delivered by Richard Suart in the role of Ko-Ko. Suart
has made the role something of a speciality, and he frequently stole the
spotlight from the surrounding leads."
Newsday, USA
"in
the star part as Ko-Ko, guest artist Richard Suart landed his comic moments
with style and wit"
LGNY, USA
"it
has become a marvellously ornate interpretation, but most remarkable is
the genuine modesty and economy with which Suart performs."
The Evening Standard
"..inimitable Ko-Ko..."
The Sunday Telegraph
D'Oyly Carte at the Savoy 2000, directed by Ian Judge.
" Richard
Suart plays Ko-Ko in time-honoured fashion, a masterpiece of comic timing
and diction."
The Times
"But it does
have the immeasurable benefit of Richard Suart's presence as Ko-Ko. With
years of Gilbert and Sullivan and opera experience, he gives a masterful,
delightfully detailed performance, timed to perfection..."
The Stage
2. The Yeomen of the Guard click to go back to menu
Welsh National Opera" ...and
above all Richard Suart...a marvellously alert, lucid, not too tear-jerking
Jack Point".
The Independent
"At the centre
of the performance stands Richard Suart's Jack Point. The melancholy Jester
might be a gift of a role to a fine singing actor, but that in no way
diminishes the imaginitive artistry lavished on it by Suart, whose interpretation,
both in the larger view, and in the finer detail, is consummate".
Opera Now
"...Jack
Point (Richard Suart) reminding one of a furrow-browed Ronnie Corbett..."
The Daily Telegraph
Opera Holland Park
"But the
star of the show was Richard Suart, no stranger to the Merryman, 'moping
mum', with beautifully timed comedy and mock pathos, hilariously capering
with the Lieutenant, putting down the squawking peacocks with a gag, and
even winning his race against the conductor's high-speed baton."
The Stage
3. Iolanthe click to go back to menu
Iolanthe‚ San Francisco Symphony
Mercury News (June 2009)
'The semi-staged production is appropriately frilly and silly‚ ludicrous and lovely. It boasts one fabulous performance‚ by baritone Richard Suart as the Lord Chancellor...The live wire is Suart‚ a British master of the G&S craft‚ whose flair and diction match Albert Finney and whose outlandishness brings Burt Lahr to mind‚ or John Cleese. As the Lord Chancellor‚ a lecher and pompous birdbrain of legalisms‚ Suart inhabits the full ridiculousness of the material. He is also the only cast member to put across the telegraph-fast syllabification of Gilbert’s lyrics — "Love‚ unrequited‚ robs me of rest" is virtually a Victorian rap — with enough clarity to keep the words from becoming a blur'
Iolanthe‚ San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Chronicle (June 2009)
'...the British baritone Richard Suart‚ whose long experience in this field enlivened his performance as the Lord Chancellor. Comic reflexes‚ linguistic agility and just enough tonal luster - these were his stock-in-trade‚ and he made the most of them'
London Philharmonic Orchestra and chorus/ Roger Norrington/ Festival Hall
" ...Richard
Suart (The Lord Chancellor) has become the sine qua non of G & S in
this country. Beware inferior substitutes".
The Independent on Sunday
"The star
of the show was Richard Suart's well oiled and disingenuous Lord Chancellor,
making an art form of physical uncoordination ... His virtuosic 'Nightmare'
song - a compendium of every restless night you've ever endured - is Gilbert
at his dazzling best. Suart didn't drop a stitch."
The Independent
"Richard
Suart as The Lord Chancellor gave everyone a lesson in articulation and
shaping a Joke".
The Times
International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, Buxton.
" ...it
helps to have some of the best G & S performers around, and the audience
was clearly hard put to it to award higher honours to Richard Suart for
giving his wonderfully batty Lord Chancellor."
Manchester Evening News
" The evening
was mostly Richard Suart's. His Lord Chancellor was fruity, laid-back,
resourceful and shares with the great John Reed, indefinable charm."
Gilbert and Sullivan Society journal
Grange Park 2003
" Most outstanding
of the generally admirable performances was that of
Richard Suart's tongue-tripping Lord Chancellor. His wily Scottish accent
hinted at a
cross between Lord Irvine and Gordon Brown, and he projected his patter
songs, from the Act 1 'When I went to the bar' to the spine-chilling Act
2 'Nightmare Song', in which bedclothes were interfered with by unseen
fairies, with precise, punchy panache and not a lack of ad-lobbing."
Music and Vision
4. The Merry Widow click to go back to menu
Merry Widow‚ ENO
Financial Times (May 2008)
'Richard Suart comes close to walking off with the performance as a brilliantly funny Baron Zeta.'
The Merry Widow‚ English National Opera
Country Life (May 2008)
'Notable‚ too‚ were the Baron of the always impeccable Richard Suart...'
5. Opera North click to go back to menu
Paradise Moscow‚ Opera North at Bregenz Festival
Times (August 2009)
'Director David Pountney draws broad characters‚ Richard Suart’s sleazy foreman‚ Barabashkin‚ stealing the show as he shoots back vodka and staggers to the toilet. That got a big guffaw from the Austrians'
Paradise w‚ Opera North
Times (April 2009)
'...practised comedy vigorously thumped home (Richard Angas and Richard Suart) the Cheryomushki “baddies”'
Let ‘em Eat Cake‚ Opera North
Stage (February 2009)
'Highlights include Richard Suart’s bumbling General Snookfield'
Let ’em Eat Cake‚ Opera North
Financial Times (February 2009)
'William Dazeley‚ Bibi Heal‚ Richard Suart and Steven Beard head a sparkling cast'
Of Thee I Sing‚ Opera North
Financial Times (October 2008)
'the scene-stealers are Steven Beard’s vice-president and Richard Suart’s French ambassador'
Of Thee I Sing‚ Opera North
Guardian (October 2008)
'Richard Suart’s French ambassador provides a skilful vaudeville turn'
Of Thee I Sing‚ Opera North
Stage (October 2008)
'Strong performances from...Richard Suart as the impeccable French Ambassador'
Of Thee I Sing‚ Opera North
Times (October 2008)
'up pops the French Ambassador (Richard Suart‚ wafting clouds of outrageous franglais)'
6. They'd None of 'em Be Missed click to go back to menu
They’d None of ’em Be Missed‚ by Richard Suart & ASH Smyth
Book Review - The Stage (August 2008)
'Here’s a source of innocent merriment to delight all G&S fans‚ particularly those of their most endearing creation The Mikado. This book‚ which at first sight is a simple celebration of the famous Little List song is‚ in fact‚ neither little nor a list. In format no bigger than a postcard‚ this 190-page‚ lavishly-illustrated book contains far more than a simple list of lists. Richard Suart‚ perhaps the finest patter-man in the business‚ together with his collaborator ASH Smyth‚ have produced an account of the history and development not only of the list‚ but also of the opera itself‚ placing it both in its time and examining how it has developed into an international favourite since its first outing in 1885. For example‚ Gilbert was well-known as being a stickler for attention to his words and stage directions - such was his legacy that it was a century before the first ’new’ list reached the London stage. With one or two exceptions (such as the list written by Tim Rice for Cricketer Colin Cowdrey’s memorial service or one decrying the behaviour of visitors to National Trust properties)‚ the authors have not printed lists in full‚ but divided the book into sections. This gives a rather nice potted history of the last 25 years or so. For example‚ in a chapter dedicated to the Conservatives‚ we are reminded of how tired we were of them by 1997. No institution or individual from the monarchy to English national opera is exempt. Even the occasional member of the public makes the list. And this‚ perhaps‚ is the charm of the list and consequently this book - the list song can be adapted to suit virtually any circumstance. When handled with a combination of waspish wit and obvious genuine respect for the original‚ the result is a delightful couple of hours chortling to oneself.'
7. Salad Days click to go back to menu
Salad Days‚ Tête a Tête
Julianslade.com (November 2009)
'...drawing on his Gilbert and Sullivan background‚ Richard Suart’s ’Cleopatra’ was undoubtedly the best I have heard'
Salad Days‚ Tête a Tête
Whats on Stage.com (November 2009)
'The cast is a good mix of musical theatre troupers and light opera names‚ with G&S patter specialist Richard Suart adding a touch of real class'
8. After Life click to go back to menu
After Life‚ Barbican‚ London
Classical Source.com (May 2010)
'Richard Suart as sad Mr Walter (who eventually identifies his one life-affirming memory) was particularly impressive'
After Life‚ Barbican‚ London
Independent on Sunday (May 2010)
'A fine performance from the singers and the impeccable Asko/Schönberg ensemble'
After Life‚ Barbican‚ London
The Arts Desk.com (May 2010)
'Among the visitors it was Richard Suart’s Mr Walter who really compelled one’s attention‚ delivering a beautifully understated performance as the man contemplating‚ and ultimately managing to celebrate‚ his unextraordinary "so-so life"'
After Life‚ De Nederlandse Opera
Opera (January 2010)
'Mr Walter (a touching Richard Suart)'
9. Chicago concert click to go back to menu
G&S Concert‚ Grant Park Music Festival USA
Chicago Classical Review.com (July 2009)
'Guests Frances McCafferty and Richard Suart provided veteran Savoyard experience‚ manifest in their humour‚ pinpoint clarity and articulation...Suart’s experience was manifest in the bracing clarity of his consummately nimble I am the very model of a modern Major-General‚taken at a very fleet tempo. Suart brought down the house‚ or park‚ with his updated‚ Chicago-centric version of the Lord High Executioner’s little list‚ with heat-seeking missiles launched at countertenors‚ tongue ring wearers‚ audience members’ cellphones‚ Bernie Madoff‚ Berlusconi‚ Governor Blagojevitch‚ the Cubs and Sox‚ and Ravinia ticket prices'
10. The Pirates of Penzance click to go back to menu
D'Oyly Carte at the Queens Theatre
" Richard
Suart is a splendid, batty Major-General..."
The Times
"Richard
Suart, a natural successor to the great John Reed, patters astoundingly,
and is gleefully funny..."
The Guardian
International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, Buxton
"Richard
Suart, who is making comic baritone roles his personal property, brought
his Mr Pastry-ish style to Major-General Stanley ..."
Manchester Evening News
English National Opera, December 2004
"…above all, Richard Suart, the perfect purveyor of patter as the Major-General himself."
David Mellor - The Mail on Sunday
"…and Richard Suart’s "modern" Major-General Stanley showed everybody up. He alone gave the old dialogue a lift; he alone filled the stage. And it needed filling, believe me."
Edward Seckerson - The Independent
"The cast needs every G&S pro it can lay its hands on, and it has one in Richard Suart’s exemplary Major-General Stanley."
Richard Fairman - The Financial Times
11. Best of Gilbert and Sullivan Concert click to go back to menu
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Cond. Bramwell Tovey.
" Last night,
Suart was back. And if you're a D'Oyly Carte historian, you needn't feel
uncomfortable placing him in the company of Martyn Green and Sir Henry
Lytton, Suart is that good. With consonants tripping along like a lithe
hammer tapping away, a sly wink exactly placed, unbridled lechery suggested
à la mode, Suart ruled every verse."
Winnipeg Free Press
12. Patience click to go back to menu
International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, Buxton.
" Richard
Suart's Bunthorne is near perfect, in appearance a combination of Walter
Crane.,Whistler, Charles Swinburne and Oscar Wilde. Suart is well aware
that Bunthorne is the chap who tries too hard and fails, but doesn't care
a hoot because he knows that tomorrow, he can begin the charade all over
again. This man is a serial sham."
Gilbert and Sullivan Society Journal
13. Princess Ida click to go back to menu
International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, Buxton.
" ...and the cast included Richard Suart as Gama, surely one of the few who could (and did) make an entertainment of the 'most disagreeable man'..."
Manchester Evening News
14. Gwyneth and the Green Knight click to go back to menu
Music Theatre Wales at the Linbury Studio, Covent Garden.
"That great
singing actor Richard Suart is in his element with his similarly
craven Arthur..."
The Times
15. Die Fledermaus click to go back to menu
Diva Opera at Les Azuriales Festival, Cap Ferrat
"The production,
by distinguished British baritone Richard Suart, who also played Frank,
was a great success. His staging had the pace and wit that Glyndebourne's
recent dim production conspicuously lacked.."
Sunday Express
16. The Parson's Pirates click to go back to menu
Opera della Luna at the Bridewell Theatre
"Richard
Suart, the leading Savoyard of our day..."
The Stage
17. The Marriage of Figaro click to go back to menu
Garsington Opera
"...a glorious
cameo performance from Richard Suart"
Oxford Times
"...expert
comic..."
The Times
18. La Vie Parisienne click to go back to menu
The D'Oyly Carte
" There's
also a wonderful role for Richard Suart, the ENO's best Ko-Ko - a Brazilian
millionaire throwing himself and money way over the top at passing fancies."
The Guardian
19. HMS Pinafore click to go back to menu
Proms 2005
‘Among the singers, much the best were….Richard Suart who made a splendidly fatuous Ruler of the Queen’s Navee.’
Ivan Hewett – The Daily Telegraph
‘Richard Suart as a veteran Sir Joseph Porter sang and acted everyone else off stage as an admirable Admiral.’
Hilary Finch – The Times.
