ED2013 5/5 Reviews ED2013 Musical Reviews

Dido And Aeneas / Bluebeard’s Castle (Edinburgh International Festival / Oper Frankfurt)

By | Published on Saturday 31 August 2013

Conductor Constantinos Carydis’ inspired pairing of Purcell and Bartok’s operas bonded these two separate worlds together by their common themes of arrival, departure, desire, the complexity of love and the silence of death. Carydis conducted a superb orchestra in both these baroque and modern age compositions. Barrie Kosky directed the adventurous works which brought moments of humour and profound sensory experiences amid the drama. From the narrow set of Dido’s palace, where the cast spilt into the audience and orchestra pit, to the huge, exposed space of Bluebeard’s castle, the staging and costumes by Katrin Lea Tag were excitingly brave. Each effect brought focus back to the music and the forces at play in the stories which were illuminated by the cast’s glowing performances.

Festival Theatre, until 25 Aug, 7.15pm.
tw rating 5/5 | [Alice Harrold]



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