Opera hits the stage of the Concordia
I was at The Concordia for my second time since moving to Hinckley, to see a performance of Cinderella.
The first thing to commend is the member of staff who showed me and my friend to our seats, despite us arriving just as the lights went down for the start of the show.
Our fairy godmother had a torch to hand and kindly guided us down the stairs in the darkness.
This Cinderella was def- initely going to the ball.
The drama got off to a strong start; the charming aplomb of the self-serving Don Magnifico and his two bratty daughters was very engaging, the set and use of props simple and well pitched for a light comedy.
Leading lady Helene Ducos elegantly took on the role of Cinderella.
Her mezzo soprano voice was compelling and helped accentuate the romantic elements of the story.
The music overall was excellent, with the solos and choral crescendos well harmonised and not too drawn out.
Opera reminds us of the power of setting words to music, and the cast did a great job of embodying the range of emotions at play in the timeless tale.
It wasn’t as slapstick as the shorter Puccini operas I saw last year at the theatre, but the more serious tone helps accentuate the comedic moments.
Rossini’s decision to trim back the magical elements from the classic tale renders it more believable, a quality the folks at Stanley Opera used to full effect.