Productions are generally small scale, with accompaniment from piano or a small instrumental ensemble. They are presented in the theatres Studio 1 and Studio 2, which means, for good or ill, that audiences are never far from the action. But it is a chance to hear some fine up and coming performers and see the work of some interesting directors.
Gian Carlo Menotti is a composer whose works tend to get neglected by larger scale opera companies. Operaview is giving us a welcome chance to see The Medium directed by Natalie Katsou, musical director Maite Aguirre. Peter Maxwell Davies Eight Songs for a Mad King gets a new staging from Melos Sinfonia and Helios Chamber Opera, Ella Marchment directs with Oliver Zeffman conducting, and the work is paired with Walton's Facade.
The Arcola Theatre's own production of Massenet's Werther is directed by Aylin Bozok (who gave us an interesting take on Debussy's Pelleas et Melisande last year). The cast includes Adam Tunnicliffe and Katie Bray. Another classic is Handel's Acis and Galatea which Eboracum Baroque perform with a small period instrument ensemble. The production is directed by Jennifer Bakst and conducted by Chris Parsons, with Gareth Edmunds and Naomi Sturges in the title roles.
Ryedale Festival's production of The Coronation of Poppea |
New operas include Tim Benjamin's Madame X, which is inspired by Jacobean revenge drama and Handel's Italian operas (there is a trailer for the opera on-line). Women Box is a triple bill of music theatre, with works by Anna Meredith, Jennifer Walshe and Laura Bowler presented by Size Zero Opera and the Ligeti Quartet. Marsyas Trio, Size Zero Opera and Smoking Apples present Shadows of Time, performed by shadow puppets and a trio of amplified flute, cello and piano, telling the story of a planet travelling through time, with music by Mario Lavista, George Crumb and Laura Bowler.
Aikainen is an opera by Miika Hyytiainen presented by ExClam! with vocal artists and singers Annika Fuhrmann and Frauke Aulbert, instrumental group Carjo Ensemble and composer Miika Hyytiainen writing music write time. We are promised 3D printed Ocarinas, Mobius strip sc0res, 3D Norns and the whole spectrum of the human voice from cattle call tries to overtone singing and dramatic opera.
Further information from the Arcola Theatre website. See our reviews from last years festival.
Elsewhere on this blog:
- 1930s style: Adriana Lecouvreur at Opera Holland Park - opera review
- Shimmering magic: Moses und Aron, WNO at Covent Garden - opera review
- Genesis Sixteen and more at Sounds Sublime - concert review
- With a French accent: The Fairy Queen from Les Arts Florissant - CD review
- Reading the Silence: Aspects of Handel's sexuality - feature article
- Rare charm: Scarlatti's Rosinda ed Emireno - CD review
- Heroes Meet: Music by Gavin Bryars - CD review
- Buxton Festival: Rossini's Otello - opera review
- Buxton Festival: Gluck's Orfeo - opera review
- Buxton Festival: Women on the Edge Rosalind Plowright in recital - concert review
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