Musical Sunday.. at Wigmore Hall and ENO

Sunday saw us with a double treat of two musical items.  Firstly we were off to Wigmore Hall for a treat from Benjamin Smith... (more at the end of this post)

we wandered the streets of London having time for a few pics.

Protective hoarding around building works..

This is the old front wall of a building that's now been demolished.. I'm assuming there's a preservation order on the building front... all now held upright by scaffolding awaiting its fortune..

Having been to Wigmore Hall and had a bite to eat for lunch, we headed off in the direction of Leicester Square - where we were to meet some friends... although known to Pete I was meeting, Jan - for the first time (although I'd known her 'virtually' for quite a while), together with her husband, daughter Sue and grandson.

What we didn't know when we reached Leicester Square was that there was a Russion Event in place - so a bit on the crowded side.

And then off to the Coliseum for our afternoon entertainment.7

So - morning started with a concert by Benjamin Frith, paino playing

Haydn's Piano Sonata in C HXVI:5
Mendelssohn's, Songs without Words: Book 6 Op. 67
Stanford's Three Rhapsodies from Dante Op. 92
and he finished with two encores.

I couldn't really settle to listen so well today... don't know why; it happens!!  But he did play excellently and I really liked the lilting 'lightness' of the Songs without Words... not familiar to me but I enjoyed that the most of the three items. The other pieces played with undertaken with considerable emotion and feeling - I would really like to go back and listen over again.

After lunch saw us at the Coliseum for Handel's Rodelinda.   Now - this was a lucky dip choice not having much knowledge of the opera or any familiarity with the music... but.. it was amazing.

Firstly, there were many seats not occupied and someone in our row didn't return to that seat after Act 1 - I only hope he relocated for, if he'd left, he'd missed a treat.

The staging was set in the 1940s which didn't gel well with the period of the opera set in the 1700s.  Somehow, although the staging was very clever, it argued too much with the music - the harpsichord being the main instrument.  I have to add that normally, I don't like the harpsichord but I really did enjoy it today.

The story line was that of love and power and beautifully portrayed by all the cast.  BUT I have to say the performances given by Iestyn Davies and Rebecca Evans were superb.  First opera for me where a countertenor has a leading part - he has the most amazing voice and one we're to enjoy again later in the year.

The emotion displayed in their duet as the scene came to an end, almost reduced me to tears.. absolutely beautiful.

There was a bit of graphic modern technology at one point - with a rather loud bang as a memorial erupted into several pieces... this I didn't like particularly as it was too harsh amongst the emotion of the whole piece... but then, perhaps this is what is was meant to achieve?

But at the end of the day, it was a wonderful opera and one I was glad I'd seen and heard.

A thoroughly enjoyable day altogether!

The Magic Flute - hmmm

Today we were up at the London Coliseum to see the Magic Flute (Mozart) (Simon McBurney's new production) - not an opera I know much about and not that familiar with the music.  I'm quite a fan of Mozart so was looking to be entertained.

The scene setting on the open stage was minimalist to say the least but this was to be the 'base' for some quite clever lighting and special effects.

I have to say, that in its entirety I wasn't that entertained.  It was sung in English, not a problem in itself, but So generally, the dialogue (how literal a translation was it?) was too modern to suit such a story written all those years ago.  I have to say that as an Opera it disappointed - I like the (more traditional) style of La Boheme, La Rondine et al....  story lines I can believe in and performed with pathos and feeling.

There was a great deal of spoken words... could I have more music please?

The character of Papageno (Roland Wood) had a humorous spot in Scene 2 which, in itself was funny and entertaining.  He was also running through the audience at one point with these images projected as a back-drop on the stage... did the front row audience expent to be part of the production I wonder?

Surprisingly there were a few young children (about 10-12) in the audience and in the main, they seemed engrossed.  Not surprisingly during one rather suggestive bit of acting as prospective lovers started undressing ready for..... a young lad sitting next to me turned to his mother (?) and asked 'what are they doing'?   I didn't hear the response :)

Overall, the 'effects' (dark clad actors waving white pieces of paper to resemble birds) were interesting and the suggestion of fire and flood with appropriate sound effects were good and atmospheric.

So, given I've now been to a few operas, I have to admit that this is the first one I haven't enjoyed.  It also over-ran by about 20 minutes which was unusual.  Perhaps it is me?  and that I need to understand opera more before making this observations...

The singing was excellent and the orchestra were on top form.

and the next one?   is Carmen.... something altogether quite different.

A visit to a concert AND an opera!!

We had a visit to Hyde Park (full of runners doing the half-marathon today!) before going to Wigmore Hall to listen to the the Prazak Quartet.

Starting with Haydn' String Quartet in  Bsharp Op. 72, No 1 performed beautifully their second piece was Beethoven's String Quartet in F Op 59 No. 1 'Razumovsky' - which was beautiful.  Just a shame that an alarm started going off in the final movement... the quartet stopped playing until it was silenced - claiming it was 'such a beautiful movement'.

Prior to this, a lady in a row ahead of us took out a tissue and started cleaning the wooden panneled wall next to her!!  And a gentlemen sitting next to me, fell asleep and snored!!!

And how right they were - it was played brilliantly!! Thank you.

After a spot of lunch and a stroll in the October sunshine (it was a beautiful day) we headed for the Coliseum for the ENO's production of Fidelio.

Now this is an opera that I didn't know much about but had listened to some of the music.  The story I'd researched before going.

Well.... it was an 'interesting' production.

I really liked the music - the singers were wonderful. The principal characters being Stuart Skelton, Emma Bell, James Creswell and Sarah Tynan were great.

It was sung in English - which wasn't a problem.  BUT - the staging (by Calixto Bieito was (IMHO) very weird. (by clicking the link, you may judge for yourself) A series of geometric transparent shapes most of which were lit with tube lighting that flashed, sometimes even with the beat of the music.

The opening scene depicting the prisoners in their prison all took place within this structure.   The characters moved slowly and gradually emerged.  This opening scene lasted for, in my opinion, too long and I found it quite depressing.  It could be argued that this indicated the staging was successful.
BUT, having said this, I really enjoyed the singing and characterisation.

The Heath Quartet had a part to play during the second act - at which time they were lowered, playing, from the ceiling in three separate cages.  It seemed odd to have a quartet in the middle of the production but, needless to say, they played extremely well and movingly.  I don't think the cages added anything except, perhaps, a distraction from some very talented musicians.

Having said all that about the staging, I really enjoyed Fidelio in spite of my criticisms and the finale was particularly rousing.

Here's to the next one ..... :)

(Pictures will follow tomorrow)