The Lowry, Salford – 11 March 2022
Reviewed by Charlotte McWilliam
4****
Written in 1735, Alcina was composed especially for Handel’s new opera company based at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. Set to some of his finest music, the story of Alcina is as far-fetched as one would expect from a Handel piece including all the usual trimmings of love, magic, and heartache cleverly decorated with numerous ornamental embellishments and more than the odd cadenza thrown in for good measure.
On a faraway island, Alcina, a magical enchantress, lures men to her shores and casts a spell on them making them fall madly in love with her. Looking for her lover, Ruggiero; Bradamante arrives on the island disguised as a man calling herself, Ricciardo. Bradamante is heartbroken to learn that her lover is now under Alcina’s spell and longs for a way to break the spell. From early on in Act 1, Bradamante is cruelly subjected to Ruggiero’s (played by Patrick Terry) spell bound lust for Alcina. He (semi naked and with an incredibly hairy chest) and Alcina writhe around amorously on a tiger skin rug – the picture of raunch. Terry is quite possibly one of the best counter tenors I’ve heard to date. He sailed through the repertoire with comfort and ease, rivalling some of the best sopranos at times. Through endless coloratura and dramatic exchanges, the spell is eventually broken and Bradamante and Ruggiero can be together once more.
Directed by Tim Albery, Opera North have cast well within this production. For an opera with no chorus, the casting is impressive – each member of the small cast excelled within their individual character and the calibre of singing was some of the best I have heard from Opera North. Missing the usual elaborate set one would expect at traditional opera, this production felt slightly lacking at times and unless one is an “Opera Buff”, it could have been perceived as boring from an aesthetical point of view. With a minimal set of chairs and a computer-generated backdrop, the production did feel slightly more rehearsal space than fine theatre.
The role of ‘Alcina’ was sung by Australian soprano, Sky Ingram. Ingram commanded the stage with her glamourous height and was the ultimate seductress. Her full soprano voice had tremendous blade and a depth of colour which carried well considering the theatre is so modern. The Lowry is renowned for its ungenerous acoustic and without the use of amplification can be a difficult venue to be heard in over the orchestra.
Fflur Wyn, as Moragna (Alcina’s sister), stole the show for me with her impressive coloratura and ornamental embellishments typical of the baroque period. Wyn’s delivery of ‘Credete al mio dolore’ was an overall highlight of the production. Her legato bel canto was simply stunning.
Overall, Opera North have produced a high-quality production of Alcina. What the piece lacked in set was certainly made up for in talent. This high-quality cast is really the crème de la crème. Congratulations Opera North – another stunning production