A musical epic…in parenthesis
List all the books, old and new, you’ve started reading and never finished. Many immediately come to mind for me, including Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace (Royal Opera House), a complex enervating novel that Stalin once used to rouse the troops in their struggle against the Führer. Nevertheless, Prokofiev decided to craft an epic opera, lasting almost four hours (with interval) and the Welsh National Opera trundled into town last week to stage two performances of David Pountney’s English language production that I applaud for its nerve and ambition. It looks and sounds very Russian and the score is intensely patriotic and celebratory, something the composer had imposed upon him, with passages of triumph heralded by a buoyant brass section accompanied by war-mongering drums.
The set designed by Robert Innes Hopkins is surprisingly claustrophobic and restricted for a project of this scale. Needs must I imagine but the impact is still strong with wood dominating the space and projected imagery, taken from Sergei Bandarchuk’s film of 1966 (well worth a viewing), mustering up authentic and evocative pictures of Russia in its imperial pomp and the equally devastating reality of war. The contrast is highly effective. The performances were strong without being particularly outstanding though Lauren Michelle (Natasha) impressed and Mark Le Brocq (Pierre) was a mighty force majeure with a voice that soared but the characterisation lacked the heroism required. Other performers of note included Simon Bailey (Kutuzov) and Jurgita Adamonytè (Hélène) and the chorus were inspiring.
Truth be told, after my book reading experience, I feared the worst. In fact, although the initial hour was somewhat of a sprawling trudge it grew on me and the war sequences were compelling with the filmic component adding enormously to the action. Understanding also that the company have money problems at present I salute their courage, their talent and a rousing experience that has parallels with the increasingly zealous leader of modern-day Russia…who one day soon may usurp Prokofiev just as his hero old Joe Stalin did.
Meanwhile Nadia Nathaniel is spooked by a reverend…
Mention the name Tennessee Williams and immediately the conversation turns to the complexity of human relationships. In The Night of the Iguana (Noël Coward Theatre) we are in a grimy Mexican hotel in the summer of 1940 with four individuals on a journey. Centre of attention is a horrible man, Reverend Lawrence Shannon (Clive Owen). Defrocked and disgraced he has been accused of raping a girl. Meanwhile Hannah Jelkes (Lia Williams) is a hard-up painter who has the added burden of a dependent grandfather, Nonno (Julian Glover), a man three years away from becoming a centenarian but determined to complete his final poetic piece. The hotel owner, Maxine (Anna Gunn) is an old friend of the Rev and recently widowed with an oddly effective way of how to move on. Rae Smith’s set is wittily shambolic and symbolic, and the soundscape by Max Pappenheim is very atmospheric. Direction by James Macdo9nald is nuanced and sharp getting under the skin of the queer quartet. The whole cast are excellent with the headliner, Clive Owen, delivering the goods and some, a man in need of love not lust.
And Gracia Erinoglu is freaked out…
The hors d’oeuvres for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show (Royal Festival Hall) was a staged conversation with the man himself. Now 67 years old he retains that passion and enthusiasm for his craft. However, it was the show, a kind of spectacular celebration of all that he represents, that you must see. It’s trashy, colourful, outrageous, salacious and an outlandish act of self-indulgence. Two hours of being fabulous with dancers, actors, singers and alternative performers, that made even the recent Pride event look tepid. Under 30’s look for Eurotrash on YouTube and you’ll get the picture. Kinky, glamorous and camp, a night to remember.
Finally, Rose Goodenough kicks off our Proms 2019 season…
What a marvellously eclectic and wonderful evening’s entertainment Prom 11 turned out to be…and that was just the colourfully attired audience! Titled 1969: The Sound of a Summer it had something for everyone. The year that Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface and Lulu won Eurovision. Yes sublime and ridiculous. It began with Vanessa Haynes giving a lovely rendition of Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock. There was a whole range of popular music though my nonagenarian companion was moved by William Walton’s music for the Battle of Britain film, played with gusto by the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Stephen Bell.
The evening dripped with nostalgia and we were treated to some superb singing from Tony Momrelle, the standout number when she joined Haynes to give us a fantastic version of Here Comes the Sun. It ended with Bacharach’s I Say a Little Prayer and an encore of Bowie’s Space Oddity. Presenter Lemn Sissay was the icing on the cake. Delightful.
The Night of the Iguana – 0844 482 5151
‘Fashion Freak Show – 020 3879 9555
BBC Proms 2019 – www.bbc.co.uk/proms
