Bampton Classical Opera at St John’s Smith Square
13th September 2007
There is just one person, in the world, I am sure, who does not know Shakespeare’s tragical masterpiece Romeo and Juliet. It has been immortalised, also, in operas, such as Romeo et Juliette, by Gounod, and I Capuletti e I Montecchi, by Bellini, and in a vocal concert with, Romeo and Juliet, by Berlioz, and in musical, in West Side Story, in film, Romeo and Juliet, with that incomporable speciman, of manhood, Leonardo diCaprio, and in a passionate ballet, Romeo and Juliet, by Prokofiev. Surely, only those, with the poorest of memories, can claim a complete lack of knowledge, of this overwhelming story. This Romeo and Juliet, chosen by Bampton Classical Opera, now quite a connasseur, of operas, of obscurity, is by a composer, of whom I had not previously heard, with the name, of Georg Benda. He is one, of the very pioneers, of the artistry of Singspiel, and one can hear, in its expression, the inspiration, of Mozart. Joana Seara, was resonantly radiant, as the heroine, a lady, of considerable spirit, and also, a Shakespearean actress of the highest talent. Mark Chaundy, as her Romeo, was full of the manly strengths of virility. Adrian Powter, was the powerful Capulet, and Lorenzo, that lovely, kind, man, who, incredibly, saves the lives, of our tragic protaganists, such as never, in the history of Romeo and Juliet, at least to my knowledge, has been executed before, was sung by Ian Priestly. However, as Ian, was severely delayed, in traffic, almost certainly due, to the gross incompetencies, of the Tube staff, who, like Hairy McMungo, rate their money, above the people, they are, supposed, to be serving, someone else, played the role, in the first act, but his name, has escaped me. Claire Benjamin, was Romeo’s young companion, Francesco, appropriately, plebian in discourse. Alice de Ville, Caroline Kennedy and Thomas Kennedy performed as mourners in the exquisitely melancholy opening to the third act. But, the third act finishes, with the happy intervention, of Lorenzo, persuading Capulet to say, that if Juliet, could be restored, to her former vestiges, of health, he would, with delight, consent to her marital felicity with Romeo. As Juliet is, naturally, only in a feigned death, this is speedily arranged, the Romeo, and Juliet, live happily ever after, as the very heart, of humanity, has always desired.
Violetta
primi-divi at hotmail.co.uk