All tagged Duncan Rock

Agrippina – Handel – Metropolitan Opera New York

Agrippina – Handel – Metropolitan Opera New York

David Buchler
Metropolitan Opera

It is over 300 years since the premiere of this operatic masterpiece by Handel, who was 24 years old at the time of composition. It depicts a Roman story of some 2,000 years ago, satirising the politicians of that day. But of course in this very modern interpretation of this piece by the Director David McVicar, whilst the times have changed the world certainly hasn’t. The Metropolitan Opera’s General Manager Peter Gelb said ‘Agrippina is a dark comedy about corrupt leaders who lie and manipulate in their quest to stay in power. We are grateful to the White House for making Agrippina feel more immediate’.

Hansel & Gretel – Humperdinck – English National Opera & Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Hansel & Gretel – Humperdinck – English National Opera & Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

David Buchler
English National Opera, Regent's Park Theatre

ENO & Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre teamed up to provide a musical feast – literally – of Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel.  Directed by the long-term Director of the Regent’s Park Opera Timothy Sheader and supported by the ‘Tony Award’ nominated, Peter McKintosh, as the Set and Costume Designer, Lizzi Gee as the Movement Director and Oliver Fenwick as the Lighting Director.  The team really produced a fun staging culminating in a great candy house with lots of colourful gingerbread men. 

Billy Budd – Britten – Royal Opera House

Billy Budd – Britten – Royal Opera House

David Buchler
Royal Opera House

It is incredible when in an all-male opera the keenest applause at curtain call is reserved for a lady – the female Director, Deborah Warner.  She directs a new production for the ROH, in conjunction with opera houses, both in Madrid and Rome, where this production has already premiered.   It is the ROH’s first new staging of this work since Zambello’s 1995 staging.  Warner is becoming a bit of a Britten specialist with her brilliant Death in Venice for ENO in memory, with others to follow suit.  Here she brings the 1797 timeframe up to the modern era, with costumes by Chloe Obolensky and sets by Michael Levine to match.  The abstract staging is based around moving platforms all surrounded by rigging, which at appropriate times move to produce varying levels on the stage, reflecting the different decks of the ship, HMS Indomitable.