What a glorious evening.
A part of the Bristol Proms this production from the Bristol Old Vic, The English Concert and the Erebus Ensemble explores the passion through Handel's music enacted on stage. With a different actor playing The Beloved on each of the four nights this is quite an undertaking - we saw Nir Paldi but the rols is also being taken by Jamie Beddard, Jessica Murrain and Toby Jones - personally I'd be happy to go each night to see them all!
We had on stage seating and were part of the action. Obviously sitting behin an orchestra and choir, even one that walks around, lends a different balance to the music but in this case it was just part of the experience - as was having my feet washed as part of the show.
The orchestra is small but well configured and played with passion. The soloists and choir did well to balance the singing and enactment with soprano Julia Doyle having a particularly nice style and voice.
Changing this from a simple choral work to a staged production really helped with bringing the story to the fore - remembering what this music is about and adding a new dimension to the way it touches the audience. At times, it was not a comfortable watch, why should it be after all, it is a story of rejection, persecution and death as well as one of redemption and love ...
A beautifully pitched evening that really moved me ...
