Bénédict (Allan Clayton) & Béatrice (Christine Rice) - Photo by Pierre Grosbois
Musical direction Emmanuel Krivine
Stage direction Dan Jemmett
Béatrice Christine Rice
Bénédict Allan Clayton
Héro Ailish Tynan
Ursule Élodie Méchain
Claudio Edwin Crossley-Mercer
Don Pedro Jérôme Varnier
Somarone Michel Trempont
Alberto Bob Goodie
Will blog tomorrow morning about the tonight's premiere of Béatrice et Bénédict. In 2 lines: Very very pleasant show, especially because of the intelligence of Dan Jemmett's production. The actors/singers are all very good.
Even though this is not very difficult to sing, it's hard to keep the delicacy of both Shakespeare and Berlioz and that strange delicacy was present out there tonight.
Dan Jemmett [with hat] and next to him wonderful Christine Rice and Allan Clayton
Remember the Shakespearean semi-opera by Purcell, The Fairy Queen, that I've been raving about? Good news is that it has been recorded in Glyndebourne and will soon be released on DVD. For your ears only, the France Musique radio recorded it in Paris [Opéra Comique, January 19 2010] and it is available (for free) on their website until March 15 ;)
Opéra Comique's love with Shakespeare continues, and already next week they will premiere the new production of Berlioz's Béatrice et Bénédict [based on Much Ado About Nothing]. The director is Dan Jemmett, a Brit who lives and works in Paris. Here is a short promotional video:
I especially expect my 2 young favs to do well: Allan Clayton, a Brit who bursts with talent & whom we saw last year in Opéra Comique as a brilliant Albert Herring; and Edwin Crossley-Mercer, a guy with an English-Irish name and sorta Anderson Cooper-ish look but who's actually French and sings wonderfully! Add to that Christine Rice who must be very good as Béatrice, and the show has all ingredients to be a success. That's how it looks when you prepare the new production with care... I'm telling you, Opéra Comique is in love with Shakespeare!
Yours Truly will of course be at the premiere [February 24] ;)
