Acis & Galatea and Dido & Aeneas

What I enjoy most about my role as NODA representative, is the diverse programmes that I get to enjoy across the patch, and I was very excited to attend the stunning St Margaret’s Church in Cley on a warm late spring evening, for my first visit to North Norfolk Chamber Opera who, as far as I am aware, are the only active Chamber Opera group in Norfolk. The programme had a section about the church supporting the arts and having “stunning architecture, acoustics and ambience”, and as I entered the venue to be warmly greeted by Chair Katharine Jones, I could not have summed it up better.

The audience were treated to two operas, each lasting around one hour. The performance space was done in the round, creating a very close up and personal experience, with the cast entering and exiting from all four corners of the space, with a wooden raised walkway entrance and step down to add perspective. Costumes were well done, although a few cast members were wearing modern trainers and footwear that looked out of place. The lighting was well placed and added to the overall atmosphere, particularly as twilight fell.

Mark Jones, as MD, in his final production for NNCO, conducted the 6-piece orchestra, and this sounded magnificent, I was captivated by Mark’s skill as he conducted the orchestra, chorus and main characters simultaneously throughout.

The first performance, of Handel’s Acis & Galatea, from 1718, saw Katharine Jones, as Acis, and Melissa Sampson, as Galatea, where they were on stage predominantly throughout, as the company opened proceedings, then went to sing as a chorus from off-stage. The acoustics of the church enhanced the singing of the company and complimented the main characters performing to the audience. Both Melissa and Katharine delivered the piece beautifully, with Andy Masterson, as the evil Polyphemus, and Peter Walters, as Damon, sounding great during the darker side of the story as Acis is eventually brutally killed by Polyphemus.

After a short break, the company re-entered to perform Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, which was last done by the group in 1992. This involved a lot more on-stage presence throughout from the whole company, as well the chance for some more individual performances. Melissa Sampson returned as Belinda, Andy Masterson as Aeneas, Peter Walters as Messenger, and Katharine Jones as Second Witch. Susanne Smith was good as the Sorceress, as well as Julie Bjerregaard as First Witch, and Des Holmes as Sailor.

Finally, Denise Bridge was wonderful throughout as Dido, conveying every tear and nuance of love won and then lost. Her final aria, “When I am laid in Earth,” moved both cast and audience. As the opera drew to a close, twilight settled over the church, and the bats that dwell within it began to stir, circling in front of one of the great windows—an eerie and beautiful accompaniment to the final moments of the performance.

My congratulations to Director Paul Hands, and thanks to all at NNCO for their warm hospitality.

 

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