L’incoronazione di Poppea – Monteverdi (1642)
Pinchgut Opera – Sydney Recital Hall, Wynyard.
Dear Colleagues,
This was yet another stylish and witty outing of an operatic
rarity by this innovative and daring opera company. Set in a world of tattooed Brooklyn thugs,
big-boss Nero finally gets rid of his legal lady in favour of Rome’s popular
paramour, Poppea. In the process we meet
her other admirers and rivals.
The singers were all excellent while the orchestra was
populated with ancient instruments and young musicians who knew how to use
them. It was cute to see a family first
with Seneca played by excellent baritone David Greco while the first violin was
his grinning brother Matthew Greco.
The opera starts with a hopeless suitor of Poppea, waiting
for her to appear at her window.
The second half opens with a cocaine fuelled orgy, imperial
blow job and all.
The City Recital Hall is a very agreeable venue in the heart
of Sydney’s CBD.
For more details, get your own subscription … it will be far
better value than the national opera company.
Brief notes from Andrew Byrne ..
