I absolutely love BBC4. Take Opera season, currently on. When normal people are out on Saturday night, I am glued to the screen watching programmes about Verdi and what makes a great tenor. These programmes are inspirational, informative, fun and, most importantly, makes you book tickets to go and see some live performances. Just looked on ROH website and tickets there are over £100, so I was pleased to see the UK premiere of Gerald Barry's La Plus Forte at the Barbican for free on Sunday. In the LSO concert Thomas Adès among his own work conducted this mini opera with Barbara Hannigan in the sole role. The premise is simple – two actresses meet in a café on Christmas Eve and one of her chit chats about her family gradually recognising that the other is a mistress of her husband. The mistress is silent throughout performance, and so you hear only Barbara Hanningan performing – she is not only a brilliant soprano but also a vivid actress. This opera is based on the 1890 play The Stronger by Swedish August Strindberg. The text is funny and full of unusual idioms, so following surtitles was essential, which distracted from full concentration of music.
The preview of After The Dance at the National failed to touch my heart with its tragic drama, but I was charmed by its impressive 1940s set, beautiful dresses and posh English. I recognised most of the cast from other productions and it was difficult to see a character on the stage, not an actor, as some of them always play the same types.
Also this week: saw Love The Sinner at the National and started reading The Quickening Maze by Adam Foulds, which was shortlisted for the Man Booker prize last year.
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