Prima Donna

Opera Britannia“An apathetic chimpanzee could have managed something better... ” There exists no personal musical identity throughout the score; instead he attempts to recall the influences of much, much greater composers in his work. But instead of it fizzing like musical champagne, it tastes like stagnant, rancid plonk...

Guardian“The dramatic pulse never more than flickers fitfully...” The second act is more coherent and sustained than the first, when for interminable episodic stretches it seemed as if Prima Donna would take over in my personal pantheon as the worst new opera I've ever seen...

The Times“Restraint has never been Wainwright’s strong suit...” Sure enough, as a sustained orchestral ejaculation accompanies a smouldering pyre of old photos and a corny allegorical pay-off about fireworks, you can’t help but think that he has found an appropriate receptacle for his more-is-more aesthetic...

The Telegraph“Wainwright’s enthusiasm has run away with him...” Hopelessly camp and melodramatic, in the Bette Davis or Barbara Stanwyck manner; and the music left me with the sensation of having been showered for two hours in golden syrup...

MusicOMH“I was entirely bowled over by the experience...” From the opening chords, through to the tantalising harmony singing of Régine and her maid, and the diva's final farewell to the world, there are lyrical arias and emotive contemplations to be discovered in abundance...

The Independent“Shows how much Wainwright has to learn before the next time...” This rather camp confection bears some recognisable fingerprints of the Wainwright we know and love – kernels of melody and subversive harmony that occasionally knock it off-kilter – but for the most part it is distressingly derivative...

this is london“Wainwright is playing hopscotch on the shoulders of giants...” At times the music can descend into stylised vamping. But Wainwright has what too many starter opera composers lack, a sense of drama, of the ebb and flow of emotion and the vitalising force of character...

Time Out“Not yet reviewed”

Financial Times“Not yet reviewed”

The Stage“Not yet reviewed”