REVIEW: WNO Autumn 2024 at Mayflower Theatre

The Welsh National Opera (WNO) is back at Mayflower Theatre with their Autumn collection of ‘Il trittico’ and ‘Rigoletto’. WNO always bring their collections to the Mayflower and I never cease to be excited at what they’re going to bring each time. This time their collection featured ‘Il trittico’ which is an opera made up of three separate one act operas. These are ‘Il tabarro’, ‘Suor Angelica’, and ‘Gianni Schicchi’. For the tour we were only going to be seeing ‘Suor Angelica’ and ‘Gianni Schicchi’, but unfortunately due to technical difficulties (much like all live theatre) we only got to see ‘Gianni Schicchi’.

‘Gianni Schicchi’

‘Gianni Schicchi’ is a one act comic opera from Puccini set to an Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. This opera was written in 1918, and despite its age I think it actually holds up very well. The story basically follows the death of Buoso Donati and all the problems his family face in mourning as they find out that he has left his fortune to the monastery. This is when Gianni Schicchi steps in to pose as Donati before even more happens. Opera is something that I’m understanding more and more of, and this is ultimately down to WNO as a whole. They manage to bring in fun and exciting stuff, but will also bring in the big classics, like ‘Rigoletto’, but more on this later. As ‘Gianni Schicchi’ is a comedy, the direction in acting and theming is actually very clever to keep interest but also not take away from the music and singing.

Playing ‘Gianni’ himself was Dario Solari. He was fantastic, the range in his voice was brilliant. Being able to sing as he was but then sing with an accent pretending to be somebody else. Seriously impressive. The whole cast were actually very energetic and the acting was superb. I feel like in an opera it goes without saying that the singing is going to be impressive. But when you can back that singing up with some really convincing acting performances it just ties the whole story together really nicely. What I particularly liked about this opera in general is the fact that there were times when it was only the score playing, but it was accompanied with acting that looked to be directed especially to help the story progress along. I feel like this is particularly important when adapting operas for new audiences today to keep things fresh, exciting, but most importantly fun and understandable. ‘Gianni Schicchi’ was all three of these things and I think that is a big part down to the fantastic cast and company at WNO.

The production values as a whole for this opera again actually blew me away. I feel like this is becoming a theme with WNO’s performances now because every time that curtain lifts I’m instantly impressed. The set was so aesthetically pleasing just to look at. They honed in on the forced perspective and slope of the stage but enhanced it, which really went with the vibe of the story. The set was the sort of set that I would imagine you’d see in London for a big musical. Of course it only resembled the one bedroom, but when the story only takes place in one bedroom that is all that is needed. The lights were nothing spectacular, but then again they were lighting a bedroom so didn’t need to be spectacular. I also liked how the set wasn’t just set that was static. I mean it was static in the fact that the bedroom didn’t move (not until the end anyway), but it was interactive and had moving parts. There was always so much going on, but in a good way, your eyes were always busy.

For music, as I’ve already mentioned, the singing was brilliant. WNO always knock it out of the park. They also always knock it out of the park with their orchestra. I thinks the WNO orchestra has to be one of the cleanest and impressive orchestras that I’ve consistently heard in a theatre. The forefront of any opera is the music, and you can tell that WNO keep this at the forefront of their minds even when adapting operas for the modern day audience. If you’re new to opera, one like ‘Gianni Schicchi’ would definitely be one to look out for. It’s such a shame that we were unable to see the rest of the opera, but I’m sure they would’ve been just as impressive as this one.

‘Rigoletto’

The second of the opera’s that WNO were performing as part of their Autumn review was Verdi’s ‘Rigoletto’. ‘Rigoletto’ is performed in three acts and is composed by Giuseppe Verdi with the story being based on the 1832 play ‘Le roi s’amuse’ by Victor Hugo. Now when you think of a classical opera, this is one that would definitely be towards the top of that list. The story basically follows a jester, his daughter, and a womanising Duke (very brief I know). This opera does count as a tragedy and the story line it follows is heavy and definitely portrays this. ‘Rigoletto’ has been described as an opera exception because it literally is as impressive dramatically as it is musically. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t the easiest to understand at the start, but the more it continued the easier it got.

There again was a big chorus to this opera, all off which brought the energy and helped make the performance. Standing out was definitely ‘Rigoletto’ himself who was played by Daniel Luis De Vicente. His performance was so powerful, and the emotions that he portrayed were immaculate. And as for his voice, his voice is the voice you think of when somebody says the word ‘opera’. As his daughter ‘Maddalena’ was Alyona Abramova. Her voice was stunning. There were moments where the auditorium was in literal silence when she had stopped singing. You could’ve heard a pin drop. Playing ‘The Duke’ was the brilliantly funny Leonardo Capalbo. He was hilarious. The way he could take a serious scene and inject comedy in there was masterful. Also still can’t get over how he was acting in the way he was whilst singing like he was. Honestly amazing. I also want to note that the harmonies from the chorus were possibly some of the best harmonies I have heard in an opera maybe ever. They were harmonies that just hit the right spot.

Again, the set (much like ‘Gianni’) was super impressive. It wasn’t traditional like a lot of opera’s of this calibre but it was modernised in typical WNO fashion. It largely featured a big wall with windows that represented different buildings depending on the angle it was positioned, but come act 3 we see a new set. The act 3 set, although small, had such a big presence. It was a small box room with the rest of the stage blacked out, but it was this that made it seem so dark as if the set was foreshadowing that something bad was about to happen (spoiler, it was). I also really liked the simple floor and spot lighting that was used. It again made it seem as if at certain places it was dark and potentially shady things were going on in them (spoiler, they were). In act 3, there’s a full strobe sequence representing a storm, and I don’t know if it was because I wasn’t expecting it, but it was so effective. I lately need to mention the use of shadow, because I think that sometimes this is forgotten about, but not by these guys. Overall, once again WNO smashed it out of the park when it comes to set and design.

The music is something that needs very little comment. The singing as I mentioned earlier, is as impressive as you’d expect it to be. As for the orchestra, they too are just as impressive as you’d expect them to be. Genuinely can’t find any other comments than, Bravo! In fact, after multiple musical numbers were done, I think it is the first time I have ever heard multiple people in the audience literally shout, “Bravo!”.

Overall, ‘Rigoletto’ was a very impressive piece of opera. Was it long? Yes. Was it confusing? At times yes. But none of that takes away from the story or experience. I do have to say that without the surtitles or WNO’s brilliant programme (which gave an in-depth synopsis of each act) I think I may have been slightly lost during this one. But that is also why WNO provide us with these things. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, if you’re new to opera - you cannot go wrong with WNO. In fact I would say it is the best place to catch your first opera. If you’re an opera lover as well, WNO is also the one for you. For example, I probably wouldn’t recommend ‘Rigoletto’ as somebodies first opera as it may be a bit too much - but something like ‘Il trittico’ and ‘Gianni Schicchi’ would be perfect. If you’re an opera lover, ‘Rigoletto’ is definitely one that you wouldn’t want to miss. They always cater for everybody and I think that’s what makes them so special.

To see “save our WNO” signs in and around the theatre, and even being held by the chorus in the curtain calls is heartbreaking. Seeing what they have done with the orchestra, the sets, the cast, all on a reduced budget is incredible and its live theatre that certainly needs to stick around. I’m already excited for the next time WNO are at the mayflower and will certainly be heading along to show my support once again.