My experience of Harrison Birtwistle is limited to seeing Gawain & the Green Knight a few years ago. I was surprised how 'musical' it all was, having been told by friends that it would be difficult and not much fun. Despite a technical fault which meant an unexpected break (and two characters suspended above the stage) I thoroughly enjoyed it.
So, when the Royal Opera House brought back The Minotaur it seemed that I really had to go and see it.
The staging is great - Alison Chitty evokes a labyrinth and the island of Crete simply and effectively.
It isn't an easy piece - some of the music is very loud and harsh, some of the singing goes well into the realms of screaming, nevertheless it is a voyage worth taking.
John Tomlinson as the Minotaur was raging, poignant, terrifying.
Christine Rice as Ariadne takes us through the back story and so helps us understand what is going on and why. And she sings the role beautifully.
Johan Reuter, as Theseus, completes the main characters. Wonderfully sung.
The violence and 'noise' did not go down well with some of the audience near me.....surely you don't go to something like this without knowing a bit about the story or the production?
<http://www.roh.org.uk>
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