Thanks to Hilary Bracefield I was able to get a seat for
this Handel production. His operas are
notoriously difficult to stage successfully---even in his lifetime the
audiences had begun to tire of the da capo arias and fanciful plots---but this
imaginative new production brought the
work to 21st-century life with expert singing, a fresh approach to the
story-line and colourful fancy tricks which delighted everyone.
The music is demanding. Vocal embellishment,
wide vocal range, voice types from
dramatic soprano to coloratura bass, not forgetting a couple of counter
tenors---all requiring finesse and stamina--- and the singers rose to the
challenge very well. There was no vocal chorus, but a chorus of actors whose
contrapuntal moves and timings reflected the music to the tiniest detail. Just as the earlier 17th century
masques brought visual surprises to their audiences, so did this new staging of
an18th century opera bring bicycles instead of horses, fireworks instead of
cannon (brilliantly timed with the music) and---the piece de resistance--- our hero singing a fiendishly difficult aria
whilst riding a bicycle across the stage suspended by wires.
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment sounded dreamy, bringing
natural balance with the voices along with varied textures and colours. Their
conductor had his little “show-off moment” on harpsichord and the lighting
designer produced some surprises too.
I loved every minute and can imagine that this fresh approach will
encourage new interest in Handel’s operas when it goes on tour this Autumn. A
semi-staged performance will be given at the Proms--- I wonder will they be
able to include the visuals which are so much a part of this production. But,
you must hear the voices and the
orchestra, so listen in if you can.
Rinaldo will be broadcast on Thursday 25th August 2011 at 7.00pm on Radio
