Be challenged, be delighted, be entranced, be well-entertained! For the perfect, quintessential English summer evening of divine music in exquisite gardens, go to this year’s Waterperry Opera Festival. You won’t regret a moment of it.
First, Benjamin Britten’s ‘The Turn of the Screw‘ – a disturbing and challenging exploration of innocence and corruption, love and coercion, fantasy and reality, life and ghostly death. The story – taken from Henry James’ tale – is centred around two children, Miles (the treble Ivo Clark) and Flora (soprano Beth Burdge), both note-perfect and utterly professional as puppets in the hands of the star of the opera, the ghost of the evil valet Peter Quint, sung so brilliantly by Robin Bailey.
The three adult soprano parts, delivered by Charlotte Bowden (the innocent, bewildered governess), Georgia Mae Ellis (the housekeeper, Mrs Grose) and Sian Dicker (the ghost of the previous, corrupted governess), are spot on. But the highlight, for me, was the orchestra, led by the very talented Bertie Baigent who ensured that Britten’s brilliant score was by turns playful and downright creepy, the sets equally as ambitious and accomplished. (The next performances are on Tuesday August 13 and Friday August 16, both at 7.30pm in the amphitheatre with access to the gardens from 5.30pm).
Now onto another beautifully warm evening to enjoy the main production, The Barber of Seville, an absolute romp of an opera with brilliant music, dance, mime, slapstick and the usual ludicrous romantic storyline.
It was a joy from start to finish but if we had to pick stand outs, Figaro (performed with such style and authority by Patrick Keefe), and Rosina (the exquisite and assured Esme Bronwen-Smith) shone, alongside the small but excellent orchestra, lead by newcomer Charlotte Corderoy, holding everything together brilliantly.
The Barber of Seville must be one of the funniest operas ever written, and this excellent, consistently good cast took full advantage of all the comic opportunities. So give yourself a treat and book an evening of pure joy, with the gorgeous backdrop of Waterperry’s house and gardens Don’t miss this one – next performances, Wednesday August 14, Thursday August 15, Saturday August 17, all at 6.30pm.
Further operas to book include Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf (August 17), Nights Not Spent Alone (August 15-17), Mozart & Mendelssohn Serenades (August 16 & 18) and Last Night of the Opera (August 18).
On top of all the music, there is a long dining interval in which to enjoy the gardens (normally £11.50 entrance) and waft about with a glass or two of champagne. (There is an allocated picnic lawn for daytime audiences and in the evenings in the formal gardens.)
Sheila Bailey
Book now at https://www.waterperryoperafestival.co.uk/summer2024.html
