Student-written opera to premiere in York

The opera will use Seamus Heaney’s translation of the Greek text, originally produced by Heaney as a commission for the Abbey Theatre in Ireland in 2003 inspired by Bush’s ‘Axis of Evil’ speech. But it has been considerably distilled (probably to save you from what would be 3 hours of music and a very sore bum!) by composer of the opera, Jon Hughs, who will have the voices singing, speaking and chanting to draw the most out of his refined text.

Hughs is a third year music student, and this production will be his final ‘solo project’ - an initiative undergone by every music student that graduates from York, which is the starting point for countless original and diverse projects every year including on-going successes like York Carnival and the Spring Festival of New Music.

He was inspired to create this opera by working with director Mary Larew and Veridas Opera last year on a production of a medieval mystery play called Herod and the Slaughter of the innocents, which used plainchant and medieval instruments as a form of music drama.

Picking up on this ritualistic thread, Hughs’ Antigone includes chanting, speaking, gamelan sounds, atmospheric electronics and movement inspired by Tai Chi to create what Hughs describes as "ritualised drama". The electronics will help fuel the atmosphere along with gamelan improvisation, and while it may seem like a potential mish-mash of influences, having experienced Hughs' compositions drawing together an eclectic mixture of materials deftly I have confidence he’ll pull it off with style.

Those hoping for more traditional Greek fare, won’t be short changed either, as the actors will be masked and are currently training with a specialist in masked performance. The production stars William (Bill) Brooks as Tiresius, an internationally renowned composer, academic and lecturer at the University of York. The remaining roles of soloists, chorus members, instrumentalists and technicians are filled by students from the university.

Tuesday 27th and Wednesday 28th May, 7.30pm National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate. Tickets: £10, £8 (concessions), £3 (students) from the NCEM box office (01804 658 338), boxoffice@ncem.co.uk, or online (http://www.ncem.co.uk/booking.shtml).

Add Comment

You must log in to submit a comment.