How was it? You are one of the few people to have seen the opera staged.
I really enjoyed it. But I rarely attend operas any more, and this was my first in years, so (especially considering the COVID situation), I was bound to have a good time.
Background: Botstein is famed for programming interesting but neglected repertory. He's also an exceptional fund-raiser. The operas at his annual summer festival (Bard Summerscape) always have huge budgets, with lavish and attractive sets. Decades ago, Botstein's conducting got little respect (I recall some positively scathing
New York Times reviews in the 1990s) but in my limited recent experience I have no complaints.
During the first intermission I reflected that the music was perhaps
too Wagnerian, but that impression lightened up and I'd say it's sufficiently original. Sets and production impressive, singing fine.
There are many online reviews, but I'm almost totally paywalled (e.g. NYT, WSJ, Classicstoday, Opera News). I was able to read this one.
https://operawire.com/bard-summerscape-2021-review-le-roi-arthus/