On Thursday we attended the first night of Radamisto at the London Coliseum, a review will follow shortly. But the production did set me wondering about the effects of production sharing on the production styles. Radamisto was created for Santa Fe, a festival in the USA which has the reputation for interesting choices of repertoire. But, as we learned when we visited there, the audience still needs introducing carefully to rarities. And, of course, in many places Handel is still quite a rarity. You felt that director David Alden was at some pains to create an attractive stage product, that he only touched the work lightly. That if he'd been working only for ENO then the production would have been rather darker and less fun as Alden could rely more on carrying the audience with him, as ENO audiences have become accustomed both to his style and to Handelian opera seria. The production of the opera at Opera North,in 1999/2000 with Emma Bell, Alice Coote and David Walker, directed by Tim Hopkins, seemed to more successfully present the work's essential seriousness and darkness.
We have not seen the new ENO Faust yet (we see it next week), but at least 1 review has said that the production seems marooned mid-Atlantic, not dramatic and daring enough for the Coliseum and not elaborate enough for the Met (with whom it is shared). But I suppose that, in this economic climate, we'll have to put up with these compromises.
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Popular Posts this month
-
What about blowing the box to pieces: composer Eímear Noone on writing for video games, films and TVEímear Noone (Photo: Andy Paradise) Dublin and LA-based composer Eímear Noone is known for her scores for video games, films and TV. She re...
-
Bellini: The Capulets & the Montagues - Brenton Spiteri, Jessica Cale, Masimba Ushe - English Touring Opera, 2025 (Photo: © Richard H...
-
Gimnazija Kranj Symphony Orchestra I get all sorts of mail, people sending my information on concerts and recordings. Everything gets gl...
-
Rebecca Meltzer, Bertie Baigent & Guy Verrall-Withers with the Waterperry Opera Festival team in 2024 The arts administration world is r...
-
The Berlin Singakademie building, designed by Carl Theodor Ottmer, 1825-1827, now Maxim Gorki Theater painting by Eduard Gaertner, 1843 Bach...
-
Mozart: The Magic Flute - Matthew Kellett - Charles Court Opera (Photo: Bill Knight) Mozart: The Magic Flute; Matthew Kellett, Alison Lang...
-
St Nicholas Church, Leipzig Where Bach's St John Passion first performed Bach: St John Passion (1725); Solomon's Knot; Wigmore Hal...
-
Ada Witczyk performing music from the 2023 Růžičková Composition Competition Violinist Ada Witczyk 's new album, New Baroque - Sonatas ...
-
Harry Christophers & The Sixteen in rehearsal - 2024 (Photo: Johnny Millar) Harry Christophers and The Sixteen embark on their 25th Ch...
-
Prokofiev: Overture on Hebrew Themes - Iván Fischer & Budapest Festival Orchestra - Southbank Centre (Photo: Pete Woodhead for the Sout...
No comments:
Post a Comment