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Instantly hailed as a masterpiece, when it was premiered at the Royal Opera House earlier this year, Harrison Birtwistle's The Minotaur has now been captured for posterity on this superbly filmed DVD from Opus Arte. There is not a lot of Birtwistle's stage work available on film, which makes this record of what will probably be his last major opera particularly valuable.
His first full-scale opera The Mask of Orpheus (1986) and the later Gawain (1990) can be heard on sound recordings (although the latter is now out of print and not easy to get hold of) but there is no trace at all of such works as The Last Supper and The Second Mrs Kong, meaning the only way you can hear them is to catch one of the very occasional staged or concert performances somewhere in the world (and keep your fingers crossed that some day someone will have the foresight to commit them to disc).
While the composer's work may not be of wide popular appeal, for those of us who avidly await performance of any of his oeuvre, the premiere of a major piece like The Minotaur was one of the operatic events of the year. Funnily enough, this production did achieve something approaching popularity, with acclaim from adherents and newcomers alike, and it is bound to be repeated in the future. Those unable to see it live can rest assured, though, that this DVD is an excellent record of a highly stimulating and musically exciting event.
While delving into the darker depths of the Ariadne/ Theseus/Minotaur legend, the opera sees a mellower and more lyrical Birtwistle than we've heard before. He's lost none of his dramatic power despite this greater accessibility (intentional or otherwise). The storyline is more straightforward and cohesive than the earlier operas – none of the circularity and repetition that madeThe Mask of Orpheus and Gawain so compelling in the theatre – but just as gripping and cajoling in the clear linear narrative of David Harsent's splendid libretto.
The cast is exemplary: Johan Reuter as Theseus, John Tomlinson as the half-man, half-creature and a spectacular debut by Amanda Echalaz as the bizarre and frightening Ker. Best of all is Christine Rice's stunning Ariadne, suffering a little here from close-ups that amplify the emotions but utterly persuasive nonetheless. Counter-tenor Andrew Watts is superb as the bare-breasted snake priestess ably supported by Philip Langridge as her assistant in one of the opera's most striking scenes.
I had some reservations about Stephen Langridge's production on stage – there was a slight timidity and the visual potential was under-exploited at times – but it all comes across splendidly well on disc.
Sound and picture are of superlative quality, the additional material includes a 27 minute documentary with key players giving insight to the development process, and with Antonio Pappano and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House on top form, this has to be an unhesitating recommendation. A must for any Birtwistle admirer or anyone prepared to venture outside the normal operatic repertoire.
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