The Winter's Tale (opera)
The Winter's Tale is an opera in three acts by Ryan Wigglesworth. The libretto is by the composer, based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare. The opera, in a production directed by Rory Kinnear, and conducted by the composer, was premiered at the English National Opera on 27 February 2017.
Roles
Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 27 February 2017 (Conductor: Ryan Wigglesworth)[1] |
---|---|---|
Leontes, King of Sicilia | bass-baritone | Iain Paterson |
Hermione, his wife | soprano | Sophie Bevan |
Perdita, their daughter | mezzo-soprano | Samantha Price |
Mamillius, their son | (silent role) | Zach Roberts |
Polixenes, King of Bohemia | baritone | Leigh Melrose |
Florizel, his son | tenor | Anthony Gregory |
Paulina, Hermione's lady-in-waiting | mezzo-soprano | Susan Bickley |
Antigonus, her husband | bass-baritone | Neil Davies |
Camillo, aide to Polixenes | tenor | Timothy Robinson |
Synopsis
The opera follows the main story of the play, reduced to three acts, and dropping the character Autolycus, and some other well-known features of the play such as Antigonus's stage direction "Exit, pursued by a bear".[2]
Act I is set in Sicily. Leontes is hosting his old friend Polixenes on a long visit; Leontes's wife Hermione is heavily pregnant. Leontes becomes obsessed with the notion that Polixenes is the father of the unborn child. He puts his wife on trial, even though the oracle of Apollo declares her to be innocent. The death of Mamillius, the son of Leontes and Hermione, during the trial causes Hermione to collapse, and to give birth. Hermione is assumed dead. The distraught Leontes orders Antigonus to abandon the newborn child, whom Antigonus names Perdita, in a distant land.
Act II is set in Bohemia, some sixteen years later. Perdita has grown up adopted by a shepherd. Polixenes's son Florizel has fallen in love with her. To escape the wrath of Polixenes at his son's attachment to a lowly shepherdess they flee at the suggestion of Camillo to Sicily. In Act III, set in Sicily, the repentant Leontes is overjoyed to rediscover his daughter. He appeases the pursuing Polixenes, and at the suggestion of Paulina they go to view a statue of Hermione. The statue comes to life and forgives Leontes.[3]
Reception
The opera received a mixed reception from critics. Guy Dammann wrote in
References
- Sources
- ENO (2017). The Winter's Tale: Programme.
- Notes
- ^ ENO (2017), p. 4
- ^ a b Chanteau, Clara. The Winter’s Tale , ENO, London, review, The Independent online, 28 February 2017, retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ ENO (2017), p. 6.
- ^ "Power chords – TheTLS". www.the-tls.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
- ^ Christiansen, Rupert. The Winter's Tale, English National Opera, review, Daily Telegraph online 28 February 2017, retrieved 15 March 2017
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
- ^ Hall, George. The Winter’s Tale review at Coliseum, London – ‘an intelligent staging’, The Stage online 28 February 2017, retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ Hartston, William (2017-03-01). "Review: The Winter's Tale, English National Opera". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
External links
- The Winter's Tale: Official Trailer, ENO Website, accessed 18 March 2017
- The Winter's Tale: Production Gallery, ENO Website, accessed 18 March 2017
- The Winter's Tale: Introduction, with Rory Kinnear and Ryan Wigglesworth, ENO Website, accessed 18 March 2017