Christopher Lowrey and Emily Edmonds; photo by Saunders
Directed by Thomas de Mallet Burgess, this latest offering from the wonderful Pinchgut Opera is – as one has come to expect from the company – gloriously played and full of absolutely splendid singing.
What one particularly notices upon entry are the rather eerie skeletons in the gallery, emphasizing the sinister feel of the opera. The set, with its white bookshelves, scattered chairs and a fallen chandelier gives the impression of a harried war time atmosphere. (Though in Act 2 order seems restored, with large red curtains hung and the chandelier repaired and rehung.)
Pinchgut’s production is performed with a relatively small cast of six, including two counter tenors (playing Tamerlano and Prince Andronico). The entire cast perform with passion and commitment, and sing superbly.
Musically, Bajazet is lush and ravishing. There are some long, extended and difficult show-stopping arias in both halves, delightfully sung. The complicated plot is full of love, hate, revenge, power and hidden passion, though I found it rather static at times.
Poor tortured Bajazet, deeply torn and troubled and conquered by Tamerlano, was splendidly performed by rugged Hadleigh Adams.
Bajazet’s daughter Asteria – an excellent performance by Emily Edmonds – first appears clad in a rather tattered gown. She is proud and fiery yet trapped in a situation beyond her control. Threated by Tamerlano, she succumbs in order to attempt to save her father, but things go wrong.
Prince Andronico, in love with Asteria, was excellently played and sung by the handsome Russell Harcourt, a counter-tenor in fine voice.
Princess Irene, promised to Tamerlano in marriage, was given a commanding, wily and determined performance by the regal Helen Sherman. Her arias brought the house down.
Conqueror of the world, the megalomaniac mass murderer Tamerlano, was energetically played by Christopher Lowrey (also a counter tenor). He was in fabulous voice, sinister yet fascinating.
Sara Macliver as Idaspe, a ‘close friend’ of Andronico, was extremely impressive as well as severe in her black costume.
Under the elegant, graceful baton of maestro Erin Helyard, the Orchestra of the Antipodes gave a refined, superlative performance on their period instruments.
A most intriguing performance of this rarely seen opera.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5Pinchgut Opera’s Bajazet
Music: Antonio Vivaldi
Libretto: Agostino Piovene
Director: Thomas de Mallet Burgess
Designer: Alicia Clements
Lighting Designer: Matthew Marshall
Orchestra of the Antipodes conducted by Erin Helyard
Cast: Hadleigh Adams, Christopher Lowery, Emily Edmonds, Russell Harcourt, Helen Sherman and Sara McLiver
Running time: 3 hours 20 mins (approx) including interval
City Recital Hall, Angel Place, Sydney
4,5,7 and 8 July 2015
