So it was back to the Millennium Centre in Cardiff a couple of weeks after our previous visit. On death row, the condemned prisoner is reminiscing about the good times while elsewhere frantic efforts are made to secure their release. But to no avail, and the characters must rely on Judgement Day to vindicate them. No, we weren’t back for another performance of Tosca – this time it was Anna Bolena.
There is a real trend for monochrome productions at the moment, such as the ROH Lulu and WNO’s own Carmen. This particular production also featured a revolving stage, though often it seemed to be used simply because it was there rather than to achieve a particular effect.
It was all well sung and acted, even by the singer who had apparently got a throat infection according to the pre-performance apology. But we had the impression that the performances succeeded in spite of the production rather than because of it. There was also the usual WNO awkwardness in handling the chorus, and not even some nice lighting changes to give the sense of time passing.
I enjoy bel canto music, but have difficulty handling the plots. In Donizetti’s version of British history, Anna’s downfall comes about because she has the misfortune to get involved with a couple of prize plonkers, Smeaton and Lord Percy. I realise it’s a convention of the genre, but I still find the mad scenes (always involving women) a bit hard to take. Can’t a woman face execution with resolution and/or defiance? For me the definitive death-row final scene has to be Andrea Chénier.
Naomi’s review:
http://dolcesuono.wordpress.com/2013/10/13/anna-bolena-at-wno/
Some published reviews: