After our first performance at the ROH 29-11-2015 with the Perm Ballet Company presenting an IMO dreadful, old Soviet revival, (see My Opinions 30-11-15) I was fearing that the ROH was just buying in lavish, colorful and dreadfully boring "old shit" productions.
Last December we saw a matinee for children: "A technical view behind the scenes". A ROH production. I didn't review it. As a former lighting and set designer, choreographer and director, there was nothing new for me and the script as well as the performers were IMO at least mediocre. Two (actors?) dressed up bad clowns, reading un- or under rehearsed lines from cuesheets in their hands. :( The only funny moments were when they didn't know anymore which side the had to exit the stage, bumping into each other or sets rolling on stage. Clearly unrehearsed accidents. I have nothing against amateurs, nor improvisation, but I hate unrehearsed amateurism.
But... the house was filled with children! Some clearly interested, some even flabbergasted, and mostly awaiting for the ice cream or lemonade after the performance. ;) Anyway, it was an effort to get children to the Opera House. THAT is great! And, it was an own production. So... I was reluctant to write a review. After tonight's performance, I had to mention this. :)
And now: my opinion on The Opera!
First of all, it was the world premiere of a Co-Production ROHM, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia of Valencia and their opera studio "Centre Perfeccionament Plácido Domingo", and the Torino based communications, entertainment and spectaculars "Prodea Group".
That said, the word "spectacular" needs in the dictionary the addition ~"like The Opera!" ;)
I will keep it short:
cast :young singers, young "aerial performers" (acrobatic mime) and others: Superb!
The creative team: some kind of Geniuses!
The orchestra: PKF Prague Philharmonic and conductor Steven Mercurio: Brilliant!
Costumes: absolutely great!
Sets: wow! Simplicity (looking very "opera mattic") optima forma!
Lighting: great! could be by me! :)
Projections/video/cinematography: haven't seen some thing alike since Josef Svoboda's Laterna Magica in Expo 58 Brussels, 1968 revival Antwerp and 1986? in his theatre in Prague. Of course, Laterna was done with 35mm film and 1900 inventions like "the black box" principle. And this is done with Top-of-the-Bill digital techniques.
A special "Bravo!" for Davide Livermore, the director, chief of creative team!
So... What is THE OPERA! about??? :)
In short: Orfeo Ed Euridice! :) Now told in a "pastiche", musical like way, with highlights of operas from Monteverdi 1567-1643 to Mascagni 1863-1945, including "greatest hits" from Mendelssohn, Puccini, Verdi,...of course Gluck. (I only missed Offenbach! :/ ) Both finales were from dazzling Rossini. Anyway, the script was well thought. A few lines were not subtitled because they are actually totally in contradiction with the storyline. But a good (actually brilliant) idea!
Not yet last, but at least anyway :) There was one very special thing! Baroque music/opera is mostly accompanied by a "continuo". The harpsichord or earlier by Lute or Guitarone. Tonight Hans Nieuwenhuis and I were absolutely charmed by the continuo in Monteverdi's "Il Lamento Della Ninfa"! Yes, the set, the projections, the singing, the direction, all top class! But there was one absolutely smashing effect: the continuo was not on Lute and/or Guitarone but on Oud. That's the Arabic instrument on without any doubts (IMO) the Italians build the Lute and the gypsies in Spain developed Flamenco. Some music/instrument historians do tell something else, and I'm not a historian! :) Anyway, the Oud as continuo played by Ziyad Abdullah Al Harbi was smashing! Not only because he was the only Omany in the cast that he got an ovation by Omanies, but from the whole house! Let's get more of this kind of fusions in classic music and opera! We know it from Somtow's opera Ayuthaya (2016) in Bangkok: A classic symphonic orchestra with fusion of traditional Thai orchestra. Wow! That finale was the greatest thing I ever heard! :) check Bangkok Opera or Somtow on YouTube for the final! :)
And now last: I really hope that the Nationale Opera & Ballet in Amsterdam will reproduce this production!
For more details and furthermore programming of the a Royal Opera House Muscat, check www.rohm.om
