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Philip Newton Photo |
Dozens
of opera composers have drawn inspiration from Shakespeare over the years. Here
at Seattle Opera we’ve often presented Verdi’s great operas based on
Shakespeare, but never before have our audiences heard Beatrice and Benedict, French composer Hector
Berlioz’s ravishingly beautiful operatic riff on Much Ado About Nothing. This production marks the first time
Berlioz will be performed at Seattle Opera. His most stageworthy opera, Beatrice and Benedict builds upon the solid dramatic
foundation laid by England’s greatest playwright. Berlioz’s music adds
fascinating new emotional and lyrical dimensions to Shakespeare’s brilliant
play of wit and intrigue.
For
this unique production, ACT Theatre’s Artistic Director, John Langs, will make
his Seattle Opera debut directing Beatrice and Benedict, while Ludovic Morlot, Music Director of the Seattle
Symphony, conducts for his first time at Seattle Opera. The ensemble includes
singers beloved by Seattle Opera audiences as well as non-singing actors cast
by John Langs, including several actors from ACT Theatre’s 2018 Core Company.
Returning singers from our just closed Cosi fan tutte include Hanna Hipp, Craig Verm, Laura Tatulescu and Kevin
Burdette. The Seattle-based design team– including Robert Dahlstrom, Deborah
Trout, Matthew Smucker, and Connie Yun–conjures a sunny Sicilian setting sure to
brighten up your winter.
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Philip Newton Photo |
Berlioz
translated the original Shakespeare text into French when he made Much Ado About Nothing into an opéra comique, a popular French form of light
opera with lots of dialogue. Berlioz included much of the original play text in
the spoken dialogue, translating it into the language of his audience
(originally, French, but later German as well). Seattle Opera is presenting Beatrice and Benedict in English, so our audiences can
enjoy the genius of one of our own language’s greatest writers directly, from
lips to ear. We figured you’d prefer this approach to reading a Shakespeare
play on the supertitle screen while it’s being spoken in French! We’re using
the English singing translation developed by the opera librettist Amanda Holden
for English National Opera. Amplified dialogue plus supertitles for the sung
text will guarantee you don’t miss a word.
Berlioz’s
fantastic love music in Beatrice
and Benedict focuses
on the playful bickering and irresistible attraction of the title characters.
But Seattle Opera is also restoring the intense drama of Shakespeare’s dark
subplot, in which Don John tries to ruin Claudio’s faith in the innocent Hero
(greatly abridged in Berlioz’s opera). In Seattle Opera’s Beatrice and Benedict, music taken from other Berlioz
works will contribute beauty, passion, and color to the villainy of Don John
and the jealousy and remorse of Claudio. Turns out, Shakespeare knew what he
was doing! The subplot not only adds depth and contrast; it forces Beatrice and
Benedict to grow up and embrace their full humanity.
Given
Maestro Morlot’s expertise with Berlioz, and director Langs’ rich experience
with Shakespeare and Much
Ado About Nothing,
all the pieces are in place and the stage is set for a once-in-a-lifetime game
of words vs. music, women vs. men, and love vs. hate. Light as a soufflé yet
rich and deep as a fine wine, Beatrice
and Benedict is
sure to charm your ears and enchant your heart.
Beatrice and Benedict plays February 24-March 10 at
McCaw Hall, and is part of the Seattle Shakespeare Festival. Tickets and more
information at seattleopera.org/Beatrice
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