This performance of Handel's opera Partenope made its appeal to a near capacity audience at Snape Maltings in various ways.
By CHRISTOPHER SMITH
This performance of Handel's opera Partenope made its appeal to a near capacity audience at Snape Maltings in various ways.
Opting for a thoroughly modern production, Netia Jones brought out the human, not to say the adolescent side of the complicated amours of Partenope, the legendary foundress of Naples.
Laughter rang out, but the basic eroticism of the plot was not conveyed, despite cross-dressing, undressing and some scarcely decent pawing.
Costumes were modern (and sometime ill-fitting), the setting was stark and an outsize screen saver with fish swimming about evoked the Bay of Naples. Faces were often left in darkness, while the lighting projected huge silhouettes of the characters.
The disjointed phrases audible in the middle of the hall made it difficult to judge the translation.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here