Moses in Egypt by The Welsh National Opera reviewed at The Bristol Hippodrome

Posted on: 2014-11-15

Our rating:

Moses in Egypt is a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening experience of opera. If you?re looking for something a little different, a little bolder, this would be a good place to start.


 

I’ll admit, opera is probably one of the areas of theatre which I know least. Sure, I like many others fell completely in love with the Phantom of the Opera in my youth, a musical which has operatic undertones, but the real opera genre I had little experience of until yesterday when I went to see Welsh National Opera’s rendition of Moses in Egypt.

Though based upon the biblical story of Moses, Rosinni’s Italian opera quickly deviates from the original narrative as the first act beings to unfurl. There is an underlying plotline concerning the forbidden love of Hebrew girl Elcia (Claire Booth) and Pharaoh’s son Osiride (David Alegret) which is depicted throughout a considerable amount of performance. Moses himself is also a more secondary role which one might not have first assumed given that he is the title character. However these changes do make for a much more novel telling of the biblical story, heightening levels of engagement as the audience puzzle the fate of the two suffering lovers.

Moses in Egypt by The Welsh National Opera

The minimalism of the set is also powerful and an attribute to the show. The two contrasting scaffolds, one symbolising the Egyptians and the other the Hebrews, creating a visual divide between the two opposing groups. Nonetheless, a criticism of the set can be given concerning how the English captions are shown to the audience. With the caption screen situated so far above the stage, every time you go to read the caption, you miss the action commencing on stage which takes away slightly from the cast’s performances.

The music is of the highest quality I have experienced. A full live orchestra sat just in front of the stalls, accompanying the cast throughout as they all gave fiercely emotive performances; every note perfectly sung and delivered with seeming effortlessness. Indeed there are moments when the orchestra grow loud during the crescendos in the music, yet the cast are never drowned out, rather their voices simply divulge a whole new level of passion and power.  

Amongst the cast, Claire Booth and Andrew Foster-Williams (Pharaoh) are particularly enthralling to watch. Booth’s sheer vocal talent and depth and Foster-Williams’ authoritative tone conveying the nature of their character’s perfectly and with such raw emotion. Christine Rice (Pharaoh’s Wife) and Miklos Sebestyen’s (Moses) performances are also worthy of a special mention. 

Having not seen an opera before, I can certainly say it is worth doing so if you have not already. Theatre is all about creativity and pushing boundaries and this opera certainly does that. Through the use of song and live musical accompaniment, WNO have managed to channel such raw emotions which would not have been so well presented through any other means. Moses in Egypt is a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening experience of opera. If you’re looking for something a little different, a little bolder, this would be a good place to start.

4/5

Reviewed by Grace Fox for 365Bristol



Article by:

James Anderson

Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.