JULY marks the 70th anniversary of the premiere of The Rape of Lucretia, Britten’s first chamber opera. That was also the first outing by what was soon to become the English Opera Group.
So it is doubly appropriate as an opening salvo by Aspect Opera, an outfit formed mainly by University of York students, but independent of the university itself. Its formation reflects the relative lack of operatic activity on campus.
Caolan Keaveney’s ingenious production tries to get to grips with the difficulty of Ronald Duncan’s libretto, where the overtly Christian "chorus" – two singers functioning as Greek-chorus observers – comment on events from the pre-Christian era.
Emily Hodkinson as Female Chorus in Aspect Opera's The Rape Of Lucretia. Picture: Harry Elletson
So he frames the action within a Victorian mental asylum, where the chorus are inmates. At the start we see them being chained to chairs or drugged with syringes as they writhe in torment, with the other six principals temping as doctors and nurses.
So the chorus are hardly detached from the action. Up to a point it works, but can be distracting and might have been explained in the programme. None of which detracts from the musical side of the evening, which reaches a very high standard. The Micklegate church, aka the Stained Glass Centre, offers a receptive acoustic and a useful performance space in its chancel and front nave.
Emily Hodkinson and Alex Hume as Female and Male Chorus in Aspect Opera's The Rape Of Lucretia. Picture: Harry Elletson
At Wednesday’s opening, Josh Madine’s 13-piece orchestra, positioned in the north aisle, was light on its feet, alive to nuance. The singers, especially the male voices, were less so, as if performing in a larger arena. But the quality of their sound was remarkably good across the board.
Stephanie Wake-Edwards delivered a forthright Lucretia, but moderated her tone nicely as she came to terms with her ordeal. Georgie Gulliver negotiated Lucia’s high soprano with aplomb, well supported by Rebecca Duggan’s confident Bianca.
George Clark’s calmly controlled Collatinus contrasted well with Sam Gilliat’s headstrong Tarquinius and Chris Murphy’s fiery Junius. Alex Hume and Emily Hodkinson were the keenly involved, supportive Chorus.
An auspicious start for Aspect.
Aspect Opera present The Rape Of Lucretia, Stained Glass Centre, St Martin-cum-Gregory Church, York, tonight at 7.30pm. Box office: aspectopera.co.uk
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