8 March 2012
The Tales of Hoffmann - Offenbach gets put through the high art liquidiser and the results are surprisingly tasty. We had to be quick - this treat was only about for 9 performances!
Our first visit to the ENO (English National Opera)... and what a TRIP it has been!
Georgia Jarman stole the show with her incredibly different interpretations of the three leading female characters. Her take on Olympia, the mechanical doll, was genius! Barry Banks came across as if possessed by one of the 'Hairy Bikers'... perhaps this was the intention?
Director Richard Jones and designer Giles Cadle transport the audience into three wonderfully surreal fantasy realms - a brightly coloured 1950's child's fantasy of toys and puppets; a dark, Shelley-esque gothic world of phantoms and magic; and a clinical yet seedy world dominated by gamblers, painted whores, party children and a gigantic revolving shaving mirror that hides a life sized gorilla... and much, much more!
Before the performance, we went upstairs to the Sky Bar for a meal. Lovely food and very good service - shame the surroundings where not a little more in keeping with a night out at the opera - (felt a little like executive dining at Grace Brothers Dept. store)
Who told the story:
Hoffmann Barry Banks, Olympia/Antonia/Giulietta/Stella Georgia Jarman, Lindorff/Coppelius/Dapertutto/Dr Miracle Clive Bayley, Muse/Nicklausse Christine Rice, Frantz/Pittichinaccio/Cochenille Simon Butteriss, Crespel/Luther Graeme Danby
Who helped:
Conductor Antony Walker, Director Richard Jones, Set Designer Giles Cadle, Costume Designer Buki Shiff, Lighting Designer Mimi Jordan Sherin, Choreographer Lucy Burge, Translator Tim Hopkins
Look at me! see some of the incredible visual wonders from the performance
Georgia Jarman stole the show with her incredibly different interpretations of the three leading female characters. Her take on Olympia, the mechanical doll, was genius! Barry Banks came across as if possessed by one of the 'Hairy Bikers'... perhaps this was the intention?
Director Richard Jones and designer Giles Cadle transport the audience into three wonderfully surreal fantasy realms - a brightly coloured 1950's child's fantasy of toys and puppets; a dark, Shelley-esque gothic world of phantoms and magic; and a clinical yet seedy world dominated by gamblers, painted whores, party children and a gigantic revolving shaving mirror that hides a life sized gorilla... and much, much more!
Before the performance, we went upstairs to the Sky Bar for a meal. Lovely food and very good service - shame the surroundings where not a little more in keeping with a night out at the opera - (felt a little like executive dining at Grace Brothers Dept. store)
Who told the story:
Hoffmann Barry Banks, Olympia/Antonia/Giulietta/Stella Georgia Jarman, Lindorff/Coppelius/Dapertutto/Dr Miracle Clive Bayley, Muse/Nicklausse Christine Rice, Frantz/Pittichinaccio/Cochenille Simon Butteriss, Crespel/Luther Graeme Danby
Who helped:
Conductor Antony Walker, Director Richard Jones, Set Designer Giles Cadle, Costume Designer Buki Shiff, Lighting Designer Mimi Jordan Sherin, Choreographer Lucy Burge, Translator Tim Hopkins
Look at me! see some of the incredible visual wonders from the performance
10 out of 10
