Photo credit: Adam King

(3 / 5)



I did not have on my bingo card this year London based opera with New Zealand musicians. This paring of Weill and Poulenc is bold and may not have paid off. But I imagine local opera companies were in attendance to check out the talent.

Talent there is aplenty, soprano Katherine McIndoe who has two demanding roles (Anna and Elle) to tackle in both operas. Facinging both musical and operatic forms, she did well in both, vocally content and nimble, though the Human Voice may have faired better for her. The shopping list of sins may not have been dramatically fished out in this production but with the double pianos of Adrian Salinero and Elspeth Wilkes, it was tight and fun listen to. Less of  lecture from Brecht, as the written element is obvious in this messaging. Both operas were translated into English (W.H. Auden Chester Kallman and Joseph Machlis) and clearly audible.

Herry Grigg and Phil Wilcox play the absurd, kitchen sink parents in the Weill. Both vocally solid, paired well behind a cloth for a shadow effect at times throughout. Behind said curtain is percussionist Kepa Malgorzata not seen for most the piece, her banging on drums and tam-tam strikes and a lovely cabaret feel to things. This was musically great, but the production needed a bit more panache to it.

You dont need to do much with The Human Voice. Poulenc’s one hander, based on the Jean Cocteau play has never lost its impact. Director Alejandro Bonatto has kept it simple and the pull is still there. This is always a sad thing to see and hear, Poulenc’s ear for sentimentality whilst also capturing lush chords and harmonies, is a fine thing.

Our lady is off and on her home phone, at the mercy of operators, bad signals and a distant boyfriend. Somethings never change! Wilkes returns on the keys and is sharply grounded to the score. Some okay-ish black and white film is seen towards the wrap up and Salinero pops back, now on flute matching Wilkes, playing the trenchcoat boyfriend ending this relationship.

This was eventful, but more risks should be taken.