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United Kingdom Johann Strauss II, Die Fledermaus: Royal Northern College of Music Opera Chorus and Orchestra / David Parry (conductor). RNCM Theatre, Manchester 13.12.2022. (MC)
Production:
Director – Stephen Barlow
Designer – Yannis Thavoris
Lighting design – Jake Wiltshire
Choreographer – Zoë Vallée
Chorus grasp – Kevin Thraves
Cast:
Alfred – Yihui Wang
Adele – Katherine Glinka
Rosalinde – Olivia Tringham
Eisenstein – Conrad Chatterton
Blind – Samuel Horton
Falke – Adam Jarman
Frank – Callum McCandless
Prince Orlofsky – Dominic Mattos
Ida – Anusha Bobby
Special visitor – Sir John Tomlinson
In the fiftieth anniversary 12 months of the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM), Manchester this new manufacturing of Die Fledermaus is certainly one of a number of highlights from the school’s distinctive public efficiency programme.
When I realized that college students on the RNCM had been to stage Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II utilizing a brand new English translation and never the unique German I admit to feeling upset. My first ideas had been why intervene with an undoubted masterpiece which is probably going the best operetta ever created. The premiere of Die Fledermaus occurred in April 1874 at Vienna and when the British premiere was given in December 1876 it was truly sung in English, so there’s a vital precedent.
Strauss’s richly romantic rating options dance, notably the waltz, and among the most irresistible melodies ever written for musical theatre with Karl Haffner and Richard Genée offering the entertaining German libretto. Like many others I see Die Fledermaus as reflecting a misplaced ‘golden age’ of Vienna music life. Entirely fanciful, the libretto containing flirting, jealousy, disguise and mistaken identification, retribution, sensible jokes and as said within the programme ‘lots of champagne’ leading to intoxicating exuberance.
It was opera stalwart David Parry who accomplished a brand new English translation of the libretto, combining for this new manufacturing of Die Fledermaus with stage director Stephen Barlow and set and costume designer Yannis Thavoris. For the up to date spoken dialogue, I discover that Parry and Barlow labored in partnership. Originally set in late-nineteenth century Vienna this manufacturing strikes ahead to London in 1999 on the time of the end-of-millennium celebrations. The much-loved characters stay and basically the sung libretto hasn’t altered though the conditions have a Nineties take. One of many such examples is from Act I when the inebriated plastic surgeon Dr Falke is at London’s Sloane Square tube station. Falke is mendacity on a platform bench wearing fancy costume as comedian guide hero Batman being tricked by Eisenstein who’s decked out as his nemesis the Joker and arrested by the Metropolitan Police. This ends in the stunning front-page headline in The Sun newspaper ‘Going Batty? Posh Doc Shock. Plastic surgeon to the stars caught going off the rails at London tube station’.
With a practiced eye designer Yannis Thavoris has labored wonders with the units utilizing the identical modular system consisting of 5 linked scenic flats for every of the three acts. As ordinary with RNCM productions Thavoris’s costumes are first-class. In the primary act, Eisenstein’s well-appointed London Thames-side condominium is the set for his or her dastardly scheming and duplicitous actions. A breakfast room is adorned in purple themed flock wallpaper and the lounge space has daring pink, white and black striped paper with a big image window. Hung on the partitions Eisenstein and spouse Rosalinde have a portrait every, designed within the method of an iconic Warhol silkscreen print.
In Act II, Orlofsky’s New Year’s Eve get together with all its excessive jinks and champagne popping is ready on the Russian oligarch’s magnificent superyacht berthed on the Thames. On the superyacht there’s a nice view of the Millennium Dome the long-lasting London landmark (which truly held a New Year’s Eve get together and opened formally on New Year’s Day 2000 as an exhibition area). Amid the partygoers on deck, catching the attention within the sofa-filled curved lounge, is the spa-style sunken bathtub. Amongst the superyacht partygoers I questioned if I had noticed Boris Johnson (the editor of The Spectator on the time) and brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis. For Act III it’s the early hours and the festive get together environment spills over into Chelsea Police Station with its obligation room, jail cells and barred gates. Here the plotting unravels, albeit in a considerably complicated method, however there isn’t a scarcity of enjoyable and frolics from the partygoers.
As ordinary the manufacturing run is double solid, and I attended a efficiency by the pink solid. Standing out from the solid is Olivia Tringham within the position of Rosalinde. A girl in search of pleasure in her humdrum marriage to Eisenstein, Rosalinde has set her sights on plumber Alfred. A extremely assured actor and singer, Tringham definitely makes a substantial impression. I’m left with the reminiscence of Rosalinda attending the get together in a scarlet ball robe as Miss Budapest. Conrad Chatterton prospers because the Viennese gentleman Eisenstein who’s characterised by immaturity and foolish blunders. I’ve seen Chatterton carry out in opera twice beforehand and most noticeable right here is his elevated confidence and improved appearing together with his baritone growing in impression.
Dominic Mattos appears to embody the position of Russian oligarch prince Orlofsky. In what’s normally a trouser position the voice of countertenor Mattos does take some getting used to at first. Nevertheless, I quickly heat to Mattos who thrives leading to a rewarding efficiency. After a barely unsteady begin tenor Yihui Wang shines impressively as Alfred the singing plumber, who’s having or is hoping to have a passionate affair with Rosalinde. Especially memorable is the stunning tone of Wang’s voice. An actual ball of power Katherine Glinka is right for the a part of Adele the assured younger maid who aspires to larger issues. Certainly, an adept actor Glinka makes a powerful impression together with her shiny soprano. Doing all that was requested of them enthusiastic solid members Samuel Horton (Blind), Adam Jarman (Falke), Anusha Bobby (Ida) and Callum McCandless (Frank) added to the success of the operetta.
A particular alumni visitor is showing at every of the 5 performances and tonight it was famend bass Sir John Tomlinson, who serves as RNCM president. No doubt in honour of Orlofsky, to the delight of the viewers Sir John gave an entertaining rendition in English of the Russian ‘Song of the flea’ by Mussorgsky. Making his mark conductor David Parry pulled the sections of the school orchestra collectively adroitly and the viewers was handled to some advantageous enjoying. Under the teaching of Kevin Thraves I assumed the refrain sounded notably splendid.
In its anniversary 12 months this RNCM’s manufacturing of Strauss’s Die Fledermaus was a champagne event that simply fizzed alongside. This is a brand new manufacturing that has a number of mileage and I may simply watch it once more.
Michael Cookson