I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m unfamiliar with Smyth’s work, but what a fabulous write-up! As someone with a strong affinity for Cornwall, early 20th C music and salty tales this sounds like utter catnip. I’ll have a listen pronto.
The excitement and nerves of your experience is really beaming from these words - operas it seems to me are very rarely flawless either in production, execution or construction - this one sounds like its like all the others in the canon in that its open to interpretation, might need a bit of shoogling, but the music makes it all worth it.... can't wait to hear it myself, one day, perhaps in a couple of different productions - that's just what it needs.
That's one of the things that brings me back to opera again and again - I adore seeing what different casts and directors bring to it. Fingers crossed we get to see another Wreckers soon!
Thank you for this - really thoughtful (as ever) and helps me understand my own quite complicated response to seeing the opera a couple of weekends ago. And yes, now we've got this 'first' out of the way ( and what a wonderful first it was), the real business of seeing what many shapes the opera could take begins - very exciting! (Also agree about the rat....the young couple sitting next to me (from the local area and their first time at an opera) were plain and simple confused by its demise....). Finally, the atmosphere when I was there was electrifying - the audience were enthralled and enthusiastic - definitely a first for me at Glyndebourne which can sometimes feel like a lovely picnic with a bit of opera.
Thank you Anna! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I'd love to talk to you about the production properly at some point! It felt like quite a special atmosphere in the house when I went too, but I wasn't sure whether that was unusual or not. It's the first production they've done that has tempted me to fork out for tickets :P
I’m embarrassed to admit that I’m unfamiliar with Smyth’s work, but what a fabulous write-up! As someone with a strong affinity for Cornwall, early 20th C music and salty tales this sounds like utter catnip. I’ll have a listen pronto.
Fabulous - I hope you enjoy it!
The excitement and nerves of your experience is really beaming from these words - operas it seems to me are very rarely flawless either in production, execution or construction - this one sounds like its like all the others in the canon in that its open to interpretation, might need a bit of shoogling, but the music makes it all worth it.... can't wait to hear it myself, one day, perhaps in a couple of different productions - that's just what it needs.
That's one of the things that brings me back to opera again and again - I adore seeing what different casts and directors bring to it. Fingers crossed we get to see another Wreckers soon!
Thank you for this - really thoughtful (as ever) and helps me understand my own quite complicated response to seeing the opera a couple of weekends ago. And yes, now we've got this 'first' out of the way ( and what a wonderful first it was), the real business of seeing what many shapes the opera could take begins - very exciting! (Also agree about the rat....the young couple sitting next to me (from the local area and their first time at an opera) were plain and simple confused by its demise....). Finally, the atmosphere when I was there was electrifying - the audience were enthralled and enthusiastic - definitely a first for me at Glyndebourne which can sometimes feel like a lovely picnic with a bit of opera.
Thank you Anna! I'm really glad you enjoyed it. I'd love to talk to you about the production properly at some point! It felt like quite a special atmosphere in the house when I went too, but I wasn't sure whether that was unusual or not. It's the first production they've done that has tempted me to fork out for tickets :P