The mirrored set by Tom Piper is a perfect fit for the semi-open air sides of the theater, and the characters were imagined in daringly modern ways — what a joy to see a queer Polina on stage after years of headcanon! A very difficult opera imagined with full dramatic coherence and thrilling energy.
The best thing I saw in 2025 was The Queen of Spades
Garsington’s new production of The Queen of Spades, directed by Jack Furness, had better become a house staple.
Start the discussion
Carmen Paddock
Carmen Paddock has been opera-obsessed since the age of twelve; hailing from a rock and country music family, the name is a coincidence. An American in Scotland, she writes about film, opera, and adaptations.
-
Topics: Best of 2025, The Talk of the Town
-
Works: The Queen of Spades
