Opera
I’ve not been to an opera before. Well I have, but not a proper opera. This opera was in an opera house, thus giving it an imediate boost in “proper opera” status. It was the Royal Opera House no less.
Tobias Picker’s operatic treatment of the Emile Zola novel “Therese Raquin” was my initiation into the world of contemporary opera and, to be frank, it was increadible. The pit orchestra, deftly lead by the talented Tim Redmond, supported an impresive rank of stage performers including Isabelle Cals making her european stage debut in the lead role.
The story is fairly typical of the genre – Boy and Girl are married. Girl shags other boy. Other boy and girl colaberate to murder boy. Girl and Other boy get married. They are haunted by boy and driven to suicide. Rah! Its naturally a lot more complicated than that and Gene Scheers excellent libretto gives the tale significantly more justice than any summary I could produce.
All that leaves is the music. The score is one of the most eclectic I have heard in a very long time. Strangely remeniscent of Bartok, the sound complements the stage action perfectly with tension leaving you on the end of your seat, the comic moments putting a smile to you lips – even if you don’t get the joke and the tragedy truely renching at the soul. From the begining I felt almost overwealmed – not really knowing whether to follow the music, the plot, the singing or to just sit back and pay attention to what stood out – the music definitely won the contest with the silence following the final chord sporting and absence of pin dropping sounds and an almost desperate desire from the audience for more. It really was electric.
I strongly recommend that, if it tours again, you go and see it. It really is superb!