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Article: Verdi with a raw edge; WEEKENDER. (opera review)
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- February 22, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: TOM SUTCLIFFE
A MASKED BALL/English National Opera _ Coliseum
FORGET all the rumpus. In many ways, Calixto Bieito's Masked Ball is quite conventionally operatic, often painting Verdi's tale of terrorism, betrayal and high living in a distinctly stagy way.
David Kempster plays the King's loyal straight man, Anckarstroem, whose wife Amelia is on with the boss. When murderous revenge is in sight, and Anckarstroem has drawn the lot to put the knife in, he suddenly leaps on to the seat of a stainless steel toilet to sing a triumphant trio with his accomplices.
Bieito continually aims to strip away the dignity that romantic music ...