TONY COOPER Snape Maltings

TONY COOPER

Snape Maltings

Based on a Romanian folktale, this reworking of Beauty and the Beast by the Opera Group (in association with the Young Vic) was a triumph all round and the Maltings provided an excellent ambience in which to enjoy it.

Composer Jonathan Dove conjured up a witty and attractive score matched by a clever and amusing libretto by Alasdair Middleton.

It was an appealing piece of music-theatre successfully bridging the generations. Performed by just eight singers (some doubling up) and five musicians, they all put in effortless performances.

The trombone of Mark Townend was the front-line instrument in the pit completely in rhythm and sympathy to the pig's dilemma. Rodney Clarke was masterful in this pivotal role making a grand entrance from the back of the hall in style befitting a prince-in-waiting.

The work was a great ensemble piece and, simply, it could be said to be one giant leap for pig-kind!

The Opera Group is something special. Their next production is a new work entitled The Shops by Edward Rushton, a co-commission with the Bregenz Festival in Austria. That's premiership status!