Katie Mitchell’s staging of Handel’s last original oratorio was widely admired when presented by Welsh National Opera two years ago. Transported from Cardiff’s New Theatre to the Coliseum for English National Opera’s share of the production, whatever dramatic and musical force it had originally has been dissipated. That may be partly the result of the transfer to a much larger auditorium, but the real problems seem more deeply rooted in the production itself.
(Photo: English National Opera)
Jephtha
Andrew Clements [The Guardian, 14 May 05]
Katie Mitchell's staging of Handel's last original oratorio was widely admired when presented by Welsh National Opera two years ago. Transported from Cardiff's New Theatre to the Coliseum for English National Opera's share of the production, whatever dramatic and musical force it had originally has been dissipated. That may be partly the result of the transfer to a much larger auditorium, but the real problems seem more deeply rooted in the production itself.