INDEPENDENT OPERA at Sadler's Wells

The Sofa and The Departure

Reviews

Musical Pointers

Independent Opera at The Lilian Baylis Theatre

by Serena Fenwick

‘…Elizabeth Maconchy’s birth centenary year has awakened new interest in her music, and particular her vocal writings. It fell to the enterprising Independent Opera Company, now in its third season, to present a double bill of her operas which, with demand vastly outstripping the capacity of three performances at the Lilian Baylis Theatre, has certainly been the hottest ticket in town this week…’

‘…Maconchy wrote so well for voice, and her work was done full justice by seriously good singing from all the cast… they took a full part in both singing and acting, and the extended chorus “Dominic is missing” was one of the most impressive pieces of singing and staging of the evening…’

‘…Josephine Thorpe, as the witchlike grandmother faced the toughest vocal challenge, spitting out her incantations with precise venom. Alinka Kozari, Anna Leese and Patricia Orr produced a blend of voices of considerable beauty whilst romping drunkenly on the sofa – and Nicholas Sharratt, silenced for much of the time by his transmogrification, used every gesture and expression to compensate. George von Bergen was suitably Sloaney as the blood-sport crazy Englishman, and Sarah Tynan displayed all her wiles as the flighty Monique…’

‘…Louise Poole, as the wife [in The Departure] who slowly realises she is dead, has an immense emotional journey to make as well as negotiating a vocal score of exceptionally wide range. Hakan Vramsmo, as her bereaved husband, brought appropriately weighty poignancy, and their duet as they relived happier memories was heart rending…’

‘…The orchestral playing was excellent throughout, with Dominic Wheeler in lively control, and mention should also be made of Natalie Murray who had obviously done sterling work as Vocal Coach and Assistant Conductor…’