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OPERA REVIEW: Rigoletto @ ENO

Rigoletto

English National Opera

A tragic story of jealousy, vengeance and sacrifice, Rigoletto is one of Verdi’s most popular operas. Jonathan Miller’s much-loved ‘Mafia’ production makes a welcome return to the ENO stage, relocating the action to New York’s Little Italy in the 1950s with a tightly cut ‘ Mad men’ swagger to the costumes and Lloyd Wright interiors and Hooperesque night bar.

Rigoletto is a joker. But sometimes his sharp tongue runs away with him. And his latest wisecrack has started a vendetta that’s far from funny. Now, with his daughter seduced by the dissolute Duke, Rigoletto is out for revenge. But he definitely won’t have the last laugh.

This is the 13th Revival of Miller famous production and the first since 2009 and it’s reverted to Millers original staging from 1982, although this was the first time for me and it shone like new. Like all of Millers work at the ENO It’s certainly refined and stylish in visual and content and the 1950’s setting is sumptuous with costumes and light underscoring the patriarchal privilege and entitlement that Millers brings to the fore in Verdi’s work.

See more info on this iconic production here

The music is ploughed through underneath the action and although it was enjoyable there seemed some lack of finesse about it, a disconnect with the emotional impact of the narrative that gave a feeling of watching, rather than engaging with it.  Perhaps that was the intention of conductor Sir Richard Armstrong and there’s plenty of oomph in his conducting, just not so much delicacy.

Joshua Guerrero’s Duke is all subtle threat and entitled majesty although a little too charming for the violence that churns from him and never convinced me that Gilda would fall so strongly for him which weakens the climatic emotional impact of her sacrificial action, Nicholas Pallesen debuting as Rigoletto gets the acting right, and with his lyrical baritone conveys the complexity of Rigoletto’s emotional state and precarious social environment but there seemed to be some opening night issues and this impacted on his vital connection with Sydney Mancasola as Gilda, they never seemed to match his care and her vulnerability. Mancasola shines with a brilliance which puts the rest of this production in the shade and she provides all the sublime moments of the night her stunning and impeccable coloratura thrilled me. Barnaby Rea’s crepuscular performance as Sparafucile also brought some much-needed dazzle to the night even when sung in such skulking convincing shadows.

The chorus is superb, as they always are and a delight each and every time they lurch with menace and patriarchal mobbishness in an out of the action,  and their choreography gave the club setting the apparently laid back but riddled with tension and rivalries edge it so needed. They looked so handsome and polished I was riveted by their masculine allure.

This was an entertaining evening out in a safe pair of hands and I enjoyed my first experience of what seems to have become a ENO classic, Miller joined the cast on stage to take the thunderous applause and although not perfect this Rigoletto certainly manages to tick all the Verdian boxes and provided an emotionally complex night, filled with hope and ultimate tragedy all passed off with the most sumptuous of style, which is what a night out at the opera is all about.

With tickets from only £20 or under and the ENO a very short hop from Victoria this is a superb introduction to the opera or a relaxing banker of a night. ENO offers half price tickets for children under 16.

Running Time

2hrs 50mins

For more info or to book tickets see the ENO website here

Until February 28

English National Opera

London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES

REVIEW: Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus Tribute Concert for Pablo

Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus performed a Tribute Concert to celebrate the life of their friend and colleague Pablo Fernandez Arias Carzola at the Phil Starr Pavilion on Sunday, February 5.

The tribute concert took place during Soul Safari, organised by the Village MCC Church lead by Rev Michael Hydes and part of the B RIGHT ON Festival which is taking place during LGBT History Month.

Pablo killed himself in late December while suffering from depression following being diagnosed with ME.

It was a wonderful uplifting experience to be in the Phil Starr Pavilion, surrounded by all Pablo’s friends, but not feeling at all uncomfortable with hearing the circumstances surrounding his decision to take his own life. Discussing mental health for many can be uncomfortable, but just listening to the speakers talk with honesty about the reasons why Pablo came to his personal decision, was I am sure cathartic for many people attending.

Pablo’s life ended at the bottom of Beachy Head. Each of the speakers Sarah Hill, Jeremy Marks, Rev Michael Hydes and Marc Yarrow did not ignore this fact and spoke beautifully about their memories of this warm, lovely man. We were even treated to a recording of Pablo singing in his first language, Spanish. It was very powerful stuff and must have been particularly reassuring for Pablo’s husband Andrew Mapstone to know that Pablo was loved deeply by everyone in the chorus.

The musical numbers were carefully chosen to push our emotions to the limit; Chris Baker’s interpretation of First time ever I saw your face was haunting and poignant while Adam Betteridge and Nick Ford perfectly captured a deep, melancholic emotion in their duet, Can you feel the love tonight.

The chorus performances of Nature boy, Wind beneath my wings and Hallelujah where perfect song choices for the occasion while their rendition of Whitney Houston’s One moment in time, created a collective outpouring of grief from the Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus who somehow managed to hold themselves together while giving new meaning to many of the lyrics in this popular classic.

Mental Health has for far too long been talked about in hushed voices while many people continue to suffer in silence from the stigma that surrounds the issue.

It was so refreshing to witness and be part of an honest tribute to a man who took his life because he was depressed and to hear his friends explain with honesty the circumstances around that decision.

The chorus performed under their Musical Director, Marc Yarrow while accompanist Tim Nail’s choice of the opening piano prelude, beautifully set the tone for everything that followed.

A collection taken at the end of the service for the work of MindOut the mental health service run by and for LGBT+ people raised £417.44.

B RIGHT ON FESTIVAL: Brighton HIV charity run Community Café at Phil Starr Pavilion LGBT History Month events

Lunch Positive the Brighton based HIV charity will be catering at a wide range of events being staged as part of the B RIGHT ON LGBT Festival which celebrates LGBT History month during February.

The Lunch Positive Community Café, situated just outside the Phil Starr Pavilion in New Steine Gardens will be staffed by Lunch Positive volunteers.

During the daytime the Community Café will cater for small LGBT+ group events and grassroots community initiatives with no charge for food, but donations on a ‘pay as you feel’ basis.

During evening events volunteers at the Community Café will be selling a range of affordable freshly cooked food for event-goers of the big main stage events. Every penny raised will go towards running the HIV Lunch Club and supporting people with HIV.

There will also be a Big Community Lunch on Friday February 17, a public event, open to everyone to drop in between 11am and 4pm.

Lunch Positive volunteers will prepare and serve a range of hot rice and pasta dishes, quiches and jacket potatoes, soups, tea, coffee, and more! There is no charge, donations are welcome for people to ‘pay as you feel’.

Over the two weeks of the festival the entire volunteer team and members at Lunch Positive will be involved, including planning the menu, cooking, serving and being available to help people at each event. Over 600 hours will be given by Lunch Positive volunteers as part of the festival.

Gary Pargeter
Gary Pargeter

Gary Pargeter, Service Manager, said: This new festival looks fantastic! We are hugely grateful to the LGBT Community Safety Forum for their vision and support in helping us participate. It’s especially exciting that we will be involved in a range of fundraising for our own charity, while working alongside other small community groups. We also especially hope that our catering at the evening main stage events and the Big Community Lunch on February 17 will be successful fundraisers for our charity, so please come along and get something to eat from us! Our volunteers and members have shown an amazing enthusiasm for getting involved, so please support us, and tell people that we will be there!”

Lunch Positive will be at these daytime community group events throughout February:

Friday 10: HIV History Day
Saturday 11: Yoga Day
Sunday 12: Soul Safari 2
Thursday 16: Work & Volunteer Day
Friday 17: BIG COMMUNITY LUNCH
Saturday 18: Family Day
Sunday 19: Soul Safari 3

The Community Café will be open in the evenings, fundraising at these main stage events:

Friday 10: Open Mic Night
Saturday 11:  Soundwaves
Sunday 12: Comedy Night
Thursday 16: Bingo Night
Friday 17: Rocky Horror Sing-along
Saturday 18: LGBT History Ball
Sunday 19: Divas

For more information about Lunch Positive, click here:

To view Facebook Page, click here:

To book tickets for events during the B RIGHT ON Festival, click here:

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