Powerful message of loss of innocence
BENJAMIN
Britten’s dramatic, tragic opera The Rape of Lucretia will be staged by Victoria Opera and musicians from the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra at Hobart’s Theatre Royal next week as part of Dark Mofo.
The Rape of Lucretia centres on the shy, modest and virtuous Lucretia (Anna Dowsley), her powerful Roman general husband Collatinus (Jeremy Kleeman), and evil rapist Tarquinius, the Prince of Rome (Nathan Lay).
Victoria Opera artistic director Richard Mills said the work was about the nature of innocence, and sexual predation of the worst kind.
“It’s about sexual power and the way women used to be viewed as property,” he said. “Simple virtue is totally crushed by power.
“It has many parallels today, not only through the Me Too movement, but also the situation in churches, the way power has taken innocence and abused it.
“It is a very current story from many points of view.”
Mills said the music was incredibly inventive.
“For example, in Tarquinius’s ride back to Rome you can hear the horse galloping, crossing the river, the thundering hoofs,” he said.
“It follows the ups and downs of the plot and is storytelling through music of the highest kind.
“Britten was a great composer for the theatre. He brings this moral and human dilemma to light through the music.
“Because the orchestra is quite small, the music is concentrated, making for a very intense experience. It will be a gripping experience for the audience.” The Rape of Lucretia will be performed at the Theatre Royal from 8pm next Friday and Saturday (June 15 and 16), and from 2pm next Sunday (June 17). Tickets are $59-$89 (plus booking fee), available from darkmofo.net.au