Opera at Kentwell

Interval refreshments

We enjoyed our outing on Friday evening to see Opera Brava's production of Rigoletto at Kentwell Hall.

This was country house opera at its simplest and best:  deck chairs and rugs on the lawn for the picnicking audience combined with quite sophisticated staging for the very accomplished performers.  Sung in English, with crystal clear diction from all, Rigoletto has rarely packed so immediate a punch.

An excellent cast had been assembled for this most personal of Verdi’s operas. The opera focusses on parental love.  This is a theme with which the composer dealt several times, and it is thought that he was much affected by the failure of his own children to reach maturity.  

The plot revolves around the jester at the Court of Mantua, Rigoletto, who is punished by the loss of his precious daughter for his connivance and encouragement of the venality of the society of which he is a part.  Played by Oliver Gibbs, the jester was convincingly corrupt in Act One, and tragic at the close.  Gilda (Laura Pooley), who sang with astonishing accuracy and sweetness, pulled appropriately at the heart strings.  The Duke was played by Cameron Rolls.  Although possibly a tad mature to be mistaken for a ‘poor student in disguise’ he sang with a steely heroism throughout.  The cameo role of Maddalena, the ‘Bella Figlia del’ amore’ of the famous last act quartet, was played with great seductiveness and intelligence by Greek born Lilly Papaioannou.   I wish we had been able to see her ‘Carmen’ the following evening.

Rigoletto warns his daughter, Gilda, not to go out!

Despite being somewhat chilly by the close of the evening, the occasion was very heart-warming, and it was wonderful to hear such good singing so close to home at a beautiful venue.

I hope that Kentwell decides to repeat the exercise next year. 

The Duke boasts about his conquests to his courtiers.