Saturday, January 26, 2013

ADÈS : THE TEMPEST

Radio New Zealand Concert network
Sunday 27th of January 2013 at 3.03-5.40 pm

Thomas ADÈS: The Tempest, an opera in three acts
Shakespeare's play inspired the second opera by Thomas Adès, but it is not a literal retelling of the story. The theme is mercy with forgiveness and reconciliation.
Prospero....................... Simon Keenlyside
Miranda....................... Isabel Leonard
Ariel............................. Audrey Luna
Caliban......................... Alan Oke
Ferdinand.................... Alek Shrader
Stefano........................ Kevin Burdette
Trinculo........................ Iestyn Davies
Antonio........................ Toby Spence
Sebastian...................... Christopher Feigum
Gonzalo....................... John Del Carlo
Alonso......................... William Burden
Metropolitan Opera Chorus & Orch/Thomas Adès

 INTRODUCTION
SYNOPSIS

The introduction (from Wikipedia) provides background information, and also a synopsis, and a selection of reviews. This fascinating opera, which has a romantic love duet, I am pleased to report, was shown in cinemas in our part of the world in December of 2012, and I have vivid memories of the action and the scenery, but please do not ask me to whistle a tune from it.
    The first opera of Adès was entitled POWDER HER FACE (1995) and it was notorious for its portrayal (on stage) of  the sexual exploits (including something fallaciously known as fellation) of the Dirty Duchess of Argyll.
    This one could have been called TATOO HIS BODY, because Prospero has to be made up with patterns on his skin. It caused a storm, rather literally, in New York, which was struck by mighty winds and floods. 

 



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