“As Therese, Isabelle Cals reveals a startling stage presence and an incisive tone… Carole Wilson is at once sympathetic and implacable as the domineering Madame Raquin, and there’s some fine singing from Nicholas Garrett as Laurent, Therese’s lover, and Colin Judson as her husband Camille. Lee Blakley’s production blends the naturalistic with the phantasmagoric and it at its best when Camille’s ghost, Banquo-like, begins to stalk the murderous lovers.”
Tim Ashley, The Guardian

“Carole Wilson’s Mme Raquin was exemplary. Nicholas Garrett was the virile Laurent, Colin Judson the hapless Camille.”
Andrew Clark, Financial Times

“The company tackles it boldly… Emma Wee’s designs evoke effectively the stifling Parisian environment, and there are committed performances in the central roles from Isabelle Cals as a nervy Therese, Colin Judson as the feeble Camille, Carole Wilson as his omni-present mother and especially Nicholas Garrett, who gives Laurent some moody glamour”
George Hall, The Stage

“This intimate staging by director Lee Blakeley, designed by Emma M Wee, gave strong dramatic unity… A good cast, conducted by Timothy Redmond, gave rounded performances and the narrative came across clearly… Isabelle Cals’s neurotic and confused Therese, Nicholas Garrett’s icy Laurent and Colin Judson’s duped Camille were sung with character and style.

“Picker writes with skill and a lyrical fluency… in the last part of the drama, as the lovers’ tempers grow frayed and hysterical guilt rises, Picker found new variety and produced music of real tension and variety”
Fiona Maddocks, The Evening Standard

“Lee Blakeley’s production looks polished, and a hard-working cast of seven performs with commitment.”
Rupert Christiansen, The Daily Telegraph

“Opera Theatre Europe's production of my opera is superior in every way and this is by far the best  cast overall THERESE RAQUIN has enjoyed. There are simply NO weak links. All the artists are luxury casting and the creative team is top tier. Lee Blakeley has proven that a big budget - big stage production is not at all necessary in making opera compelling, urgent and very much alive."
Tobias Picker