Jump to content

Hipermestra at Glyndebourne


MAB

Recommended Posts

This is only the second revival of Hipermestra in the opera's history and the last revival was back in the seventeenth century, so a real rarity, even though Cavalli is enjoying something of a resurgence in popularity in recent years,  Difficult story line:  King Danao has fifty daughters and his twin brother has fifty sons, all these cousins marry one another.  The oracle has told Danao one of his sons in law will kill him, so he instructs all his daughters to slay their husbands on the wedding night.  Hipermestra disobeys and a bloodbath ensues. 

 

In spite of all the references to ancient Greece, the action takes place in some modern oil rich middle eastern state where having fifty offspring is quite feasible.  The curtain rises on a mass wedding in front of a giant cake and coincidentally the first night coincided with a widely reported society wedding of eye-watering extravagance on the same day, purposely?  After helping her husband Linceo escape, Hipermestra is compelled to dig a hole in the sand while her executioners pile up stones ready to stone her to death, war intervenes and Hipermestra's fortunes don't improve as her admirer has spread false rumours about her fidelity causing Linceo to condemn her to death.  She attempts suicide by jumping off a ruined building but is rescued by a giant bird.  The truth finally emerges and the couple are reunited.

 

There is actually something of a moral dilemma in the story, had Hipermestra obeyed her father, Argos, their home, would not have been destroyed and thousands would not have been killed,  

 

The production is superb with the Arab opulence in the first half reduced to rubble in the second.  Only one hiccup to report concerning the nodding donkeys in the oilfield scene, silent at first but towards the end they started to squeak, perhaps an extra will discreetly apply some WD40 on subsequent evenings.

 

Cast terrific all round and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment performed in costume throughout, appearing in shabby clothing in the second half, picking their way through the debris to the orchestra pit led by William Christie himself wearing a pair of old carpet slippers (without his trademark red socks).  Christie also gamely endured the attentions of lascivious servant Berenice, a 'lady' with a full beard, before she landed on the lap of a front row audience member who earned a round of applause for being a good sport.

 

Unmissable. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...