SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL

F. Poulenc,  Les Mamelles de Tiresias: Soloists, The World Orchestra of Jeunesses Musicales. Coral de Bilbao. Conductor: Josep Vicent. Teatro Arriaga de Bilbao. 28.5.2009 (JMI)

New Co-production  by the Teatro Arriaga and Barcelona’s Liceu.

Director: Emilio Sagi.
Sets: Ricardo Sánchez Cuerda.
Costumes: Gabriela Salaverri.
Lighting: Eduardo Bravo.

Cast:

Tiresias: María Bayo.
Husband: Troy Cook.
Gendarme/Theatre Director: David Menéndez.
Newspaper seller: Itxaro Mentxaka.
Lacouf/Journalist: Mikeldi Atxalandabaso.
Presto: Manel Esteve.
Son: Javier Tomé.

Bilbao's  Teatro Arriaga concludes its opera season  - the first with Emilio Sagi as Artistic Director with this relative rarity by Poulenc. The  start of Sagi directorship has been very promising, since all this year's  productions have been well received by the public.

Les Mamelles de Tiresias is  Poulenc's first opera, if we set aside Le Gendarme incompris, which has not been performed for many years now. The opera has libretto by Guillaume Apollinaire, also the author  well of the play with  the same title which was premiered on 1917, thirty years before the first performance of the opera.  Apollinaire called it “surrealist drama”. but Poulenc converts the work into a true opera buffa, feminist and antimilitarist in attitude, which is the more significant considering that it was composed before the end of World War II, even though not performed until 1947 in Paris.

Emilio Sagi is in his element in this kind of genre, whether it is opera buffa, operetta, musical or zarzuela. He clearly saw all the possibilities contained  in the work  did not hesitate to bring them to the Teatro Arriaga, in  a show full of life which is extremely funny from beginning to end. Hei gets  excellent work from his singers, choristers and extras, who  all seemed to enjoy the opera as much as the audience did. Simple and attractive sets on two levels, very enjoyable and colourful costumes and excellent lighting formed the basis for an excellent production. This is a co-production with Barcelona's Liceu  but I am convinced that it will be seen in many Spanish cities over  coming seasons.

Josep Vicent's conducting was very good, making sure that the madness on stage was matched by an energetic and lively reading of the score. The protagonist was Maria Bayo, who lived the character fully  and was convincing and very amusing in addition to being a remarkable singer. Troy Cook was The Husband and he too offered an excellent interpretation both in the transvestite part and in the full frontal nudity shower scene. He has a pleasant voice, though smallis in size.

All the secondary roles were very well done, in terms of both  acting  and singing. David Menéndez doubled as the Theatre Director (in drag) and Gendarme and he was fine in both roles. Itxaro Mentxaka was both an amused and amusing Newspaper Saleswoman and Mikeldi Atxalandabaso, also doubling as Lacouf and The Journalist deserved much praise. Manel Esteve was also very good as Presto.

The audience was clearly delighted and applauded all the singers very warmly, especially Maria Bayo, and they awarded nothing less than a triumph to Emilio Sagi and his creative team. The performance finished with the company and the audience singing “Happy birthday” to Maria Bayo. Including me.

José M Irurzun

Pictures © E. Moreno Esquibel

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