What would opera be without a bit of death and darkness? At Salford Arts Theatre on February 5th, there's both as the mood goes mesmerizingly desperate in a double bill of one act operas by Tim Benjamin called Life Stories...
Set in Moscow in 2020, R.I.P. is a contemporary adaptation of Anton Chekhov's Life Through Questions And Exclamations (ЖИЗНЬ В ВОПРОСАХ И ВОСКЛИЦАНИЯХ), a short story constructed entirely from snippets of speech from the protagonist's life.
Composer and director Benjamin names the protagonist Ezdeyev (played by James Fisher), and sets the short story in the final moments of the old homeless man's life, as he reflects on his past; and in the tradition of Brecht, both audience and accompanying musicians are urged to join in by the on-stage character.
"By using these unusual techniques to tell Ezdeyev's story of inevitable and characteristically Russian tragedy, we encourage the audience to think about the series of life-events leading to the plight of not only this, but every homeless person" Benjamin explains.
The tragi-comic plight of a female `highwayman', Silent Jack (Taylor Wilson), features in the second opera which is set in the 18th Century, and centres on her grim decline from noblewoman to scally; and of riches and love won and lost, as her final moments beckon...
"The romantic image of the highwayman masks what must have been a dangerous and grim existence" says Benjamin "Silent Jack features a very unusual tale from history: a female highwayman, and a story filled with romance, but also the terrible consequences of a grim and dangerous existence...
"These two operas survey the lives of two very different people from very different times and places in history" he explains "For me, these two gripping stories really put into perspective the moments of chance, the loose words, and the tiny decisions that somehow combine to change the course of our lives.
"In these operas, we get to see these strong characters up close and very personal, compelling us either to sit in judgement on their lives or to reflect on what they mean for our own" he adds "It's also a chance to hear two fantastic voices at very close range!"
It all sounds very intriguing and something well different from the norm, for a change...
Life Stories: R.I.P. and Silent Jack
Produced by Radius
Friday 5th February 7:30pm
Salford Arts Theatre
Kemsing Walk, off Liverpool Street
Tickets are priced £5 (Early bird); £10 and £8 (cons)
For more details and to book tickets – click here
For more details of the productions see the Radius website – click here
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