Michael Tanner

Vintage quality

Second Movement: Triple Bill; Angela Gheorghiu; Pelléas et Mélisande

issue 19 May 2007

Second Movement: Triple Bill; Angela Gheorghiu; Pelléas et Mélisande

Second Movement is a young opera company which gives singers who have graduated from their college but are not yet on the opera house circuit a chance to demonstrate their gifts, and in unusual repertoire. Since standards at Second Movement are evidently very high, it also gives enterprising opera goers, supposing they manage to spot one of the company’s rare and unobtrusive adverts, an opportunity to see things they might easily spend a lifetime without encountering.

Last week, in the London Film Studios in Mercer Street, there was a triple bill, all of which would have been news to almost anyone. It kicked off with an updated version of Offenbach’s Les deux aveugles, a brilliant short piece about two ruthless tramps. There isn’t a lot of music, but it is of vintage quality; and the performance was stunning; also that of the orchestra, located in this inconvenient venue by the side of the stage.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in