Variety makes for outstanding performance

Published on Tuesday 28 August 2007 11:57

Dido and Aeneas and Prima La Musica, Poi Le Parole *****

Usher Hall

PURCELL wrote Dido and Aeneas for a school. That's probably why it contains a strong element of humour and a fast-moving succession of individually varied items. Nicholas McGegan's well-paced performance underlined the composer's keenness to maintain interest for participants and audience alike. A strong team of soloists supported him well in keeping things on the move.

From the first bars of her opening solo Sarah-Jane Davies portrayed a firmly resolute Belinda. Jennifer Johnston made an imposing Sorceress. The two witches [Natalie Montakhab and Catharine Rogers] fairly stormed through their But Ere We This Perform duet. Roderick Williams sang a fine Aeneas and James Geer made light of the sailor's solo at the start of Act III.

The most outstanding performance of all came from Jane Irwin in the name part. Her first solo [Ah, Belinda] set the atmosphere, and her closing When I Am Laid In Earth was a deeply moving interpretation of exceptional poignancy.

The Scottish Chamber Choir displayed great variety of expression. Their laughing choruses were absolutely diabolical.

Antonio Salieri is commonly regarded as an enemy of Mozart because of F Murray Abraham's portrayal in the film Amadeus. But Prima la Musica, poi le Parole shows him to have been a composer of considerable talent - and not lacking in humour. A very able quartet of soloists took obvious pleasure in the lively comedy of the piece. More of that would have come over to the audience had it been possible to rig surtitles.

Roughly a century and a half on, Richard Strauss was to re-explore subject matter similar to Salieri's in Capriccio - which opens this evening in the Festival Theatre.