Reviews

Love wins through

04/03/2011

PUBLICATION: www.times.co.nz
REVIEWED BY: Marianne Kelly
WHERE: Civic Theatre, Auckland, Thursday 3 March 2011

It's a familiar plot of unrequited love and associated deviousness. But, as in all good love stories, true love is the winner. Handel’s Xerxes, a co-production between The NBR New Zealand Opera and Victorian Opera of Melbourne, was an opportunity for lovers of the composer’s music to experience the first fully staged professional production in New Zealand of one of his operas at The Civic in Auckland last week.

And an exciting bonus was the authentic interpretation of the melodies by the period orchestra, the Lautten Compagney from Berlin, under the baton of musical director Wolfgang Katschner.

A highlight was the appearance of two countertenors – male singers whose vocal range is equivalent to the female alto/contralto. Australian-born Tobias Cole played King Xerxes of Persia and William Pureplay, from the UK, the king’s brother Arsamene, the eventual winner of the love tussle.

The woman whose hand was fought over, Romilda, was played vivaciously by Australian soprano Tiffany Speight.

Spectacular costumes, courtesy of Kiwi designer Trelise Cooper, were a joy to behold.

Other Kiwis to make an appearance were Auckland-born mezzo-soprano Kristen Darragh, Xerxes’ rightful fiancé, and Dunedin-born bass Martin Snell as Ariodate, Romilda’s father.

Many of the funny moments were supplied by the gestures of fellow Australians, Amy Wilkinson as Romilda’s conniving sister Atalanta and Stephen Bennett, who played the loveable Elviro, Arsamene’s servant.

Complications, misunderstood messages and finally resolution built up to a spectacular crescendo, leaving lovers of Handel in renewed awe of his musical genius.

Xerxes will be sung in Italian with English surtitles at The Civic in central Auckland on March 5 at 7.30pm, with a matinee on March 6 at 5pm.

Back to reviews listings

Did you know?

Early opera resembled the atmosphere of a race course - chatting, food, laughter and loud comments were the norm.

During all our opera performances an English translation of the libretto is projected on screens above the stage, so you can easily follow the story.

If you are 25 years old or under you can purchase $25 tickets at the venue box office before any performance.

The world's longest opera is Wagner's The Ring Cycle, lasting over 14 hours plus intervals. That's 18 hours at the theatre.

The world's longest applause lasted for 1 hour and 20 minutes as a standing ovation. The opera: Otello starring Placido Domingo.

On average, an opera will last between 2 and 3 hours, with one interval in a two act show, and two in a three act show. Operettas and musicals tend to be shorter.

Previous page
Next page