Opera Otago opened a short season in Hanover Hall last evening with a world premiere of An Enchantment of Nightingales, a one-act theatre piece by John Drummond created from an idea by Claire Barton, which brings to life the aggressive and competitive drama of two great opera divas in London in the 1720s — the time of Handel.
Directed by James Adams, the cast of two presented brilliant entertainment as the two divas meet in heaven and re-visit their earthly rivalry.
History records that sopranos Faustina Bordoni (Rebecca Ryan) and Francesca Cuzzoni (Claire Barton) were extremely competitive prima donnas, even coming to blows on stage during a performance at the King’s Theatre in the Haymarket.
To perform one aria with Italian text and heavily embellished baroque melismatic passages is demanding, but last evening’s divas sang 11, including three duets all with outstanding technical expertise and stamina.
Between arias, dialogue (in English) with appropriate smirks and pouting advanced the plot as the two local internationally experienced divas absolutely revelled in stylistic grande opera delivery, bickering and insulting as they recalled the outrageous behaviour of Handel’s two prima donnas.
Lavish period costumes in shades of white by Charmian Smith, lighting designed and projected by Josh Wiegman and Abby Fernandes, overall production by Linda Brewster and stage management by Christine Wilson set a very believable tale in the performing area of Hanover Hall, with a backdrop of white cotton-wool "clouds" and heaven’s golden gates.
Musical director John van Buskirk (also alias St Peter) conducted a baroque ensemble from the harpsichord, with three string players — Tessa Petersen (violin), Ngaruaroha Martin (violin) and David Murray (cello) — with great attention to balance.
The blend of voices in duos such as Placa l’alma from Alessandro and the final Dolce conforto by Bononcini was exemplary, as both characters agreed they had "nightingales in their bellies".
There are two more performances of this unique entertaining short opera.
Bellissimo!
Review by Elizabeth Bouman
