Thaïs in Concert
Royal Opera House
CONCERTperformances of operas are usually a way of putting on a production without the vast costs associated with a fully dressed staging. Sometimes, though, it can take the singers and orchestra time to get in the swing of things without the drama happening in front of them. This performance of Massenet's third great opera, a tale of God and sex in fourth century Egypt, was a case in point.
Andrew Davis had the baton and it wasn't until the Act 1's Ah! Ah! Ah! …Athanaël, c'est toi! some 25 minutes into proceedings that the House band really got going and from then on Davis displayed the energy he showed for many years when conducting the Last Night of the Proms.
;)
Thaïs is the perfect opera for a concert performance. It is dramatic, has some excellent arias and duets, gives the chorus - and The Royal Opera House must have one of the most glamorous around - much to do, both on- and off-stage, and has a number of orchestral interludes, none more so that the famous Méditation, which is the staple diet of violin virtuosos everywhere.
But Thaïs is the calling card for one singer. If Callas was Tosca, Sutherland was Lucia, Mattila is Jenufa and Graham is The Composer, then Renée Fleming is Thaïs. It is debatable how much longer the American soprano can sing the role of the courtesan, or indeed wants to, but for now no one can match her. While the other performers had the libretto in front of them, she stood serene, without the need of prompting.
And how she stood. When Fleming took the stage, about half-hour into the performance, there was no doubt who the star was. A long Angel Sanchez-designed scarlet dress, with gleaming jewellery and a smile that said 'here I am'. Unlike some venues, though, there was no screaming applause at her entrance; Covent Garden is far more reserved.
Mind you, she had some competition in the singing stakes. Simone Alberghini, the Italian baritone, a late replacement for the unwell Thomas Hampson, was outstanding as Athanaël, the Cenobite monk who tries, too successfully for his own liking, to turn Thaïs to God. His duets with Fleming did not need a fully staged production to help convey the drama. Robert Lloyd as the old Cenobite monk who looks over Athanaël was making a swift return to Covent Garden after a recent role in Don Giovanni.
;)
But it was Maltese tenor, Joseph Calleja, a co-passenger on my recent flight back from the island, who impressed the most. His voice has developed remarkably in such a short space of time, mainly through his careful choice of roles, and this performance as the wealthy Nicias, who buys Thaïs' company for a week, may well have been his best yet. "Demain! Demain! Demain!, je ne serai pour toi qu'un nom (Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Tomorrow, I shall be only a name to you)," they sing, summing up the clinical nature of the relationship.
His duet with Fleming, "C'est Thaïs, I'idole fragile (Thaïs, the frail idol)," was as good as it gets, and let's hope that he soon brings out a CD of such songs. His enthusiasm at the end of the performance when the singers were taking their bows was reminiscent of the excitement Karita Mattila shows when she knows the night has gone well.
This was a performance that fully deserved the wild applause at the end. Yes, even Covent Garden can let its hair down at times.
Review by Peter Wilson
Thank you so much for a truly wonderful service. I have told everyone I know about ModernGent.com, how easy the website is to use, the wonderful service, amazingly quick delivery and most of all how kind you are. It has been such a pleasure corresponding with you. I'm very impressed with your site and service and will absolutely recommend you. I can't rate your service highly enough! Thank you again for making my whole experience of shopping with Modern Gent such a pleasure. Tina, Coulsdon, Surrey
Thank you for the very helpful advice over the phone - makes internet shopping not only easy but personal too! Poppy, Sydenham, London
Excellent site - easy to use and a pleasure to order from you. If there is better customer service anywhere else in this country I've yet to come across it. Barbara, Chelsea
Made shopping so easy, great website. Jane Gray, Sheffield
Amazing service - goods received next day even in the midst of a postal strike! Good quality, innovative items (hope they're going to add some more lines soon!) Great people to do business with - and if there are any problems... generously and quickly sorted out! I will be making this my first stop for 'unusual' items! Thanks, Yvonne
Possibly the easiest on-line purchase I've ever made. Thanks, Amanda
Excellent website, easy to find product I required, very straightforward checkout and free postage. What more could I need! Elaine Kyle
I dealt with Tony at Modern Gent and his emails were always extremely friendly and helpful. I would not hesitate in recommending buying from this company to anybody. Shari, London
Great website, easy to navigate and such easy checkout. Jenny Stewart
Very easy site to use. I was ordering on another site but got bored with the ordering procedure, and yours was cheaper!
One of the quickest ways to buy something on line! I didn't have to wait for ages before it was all processed, FAB xxx
Very friendly and helpful site. A pleasure to shop with you. Sarah Frith, Lincolnshire
Fantastic and easy. Katy Price
I think it's a great online web site. I really love it!
This is the second time I'm ordering. My first order came within 2 days (to Switzerland). This site is super easy to use, reliable and friendly. Thanks for the sweeties!!
Good site everything very well laid out and easy to follow, hope the delivery is as good. Thanks.
Many thanks for a very easy shopping experience.
Very easy to order and good value - free postage for anything over £5 is excellent. Site well organised and clear.
Great set up - well thought out and planned. Thank you for responding so fast to my email.
Quick and easy to use, no need for any change and would use again.
Liked your website very easy to use. Thanks!
Fab website… found it by accident but will be back. Jane Herdman
Very easy site to use.
Straightforward web site. Simple payment system. Hope the FlexiSnake works!
EASY AND VERY QUICK CHECKOUT. FREE DELIVERY EXCELLENT!
My second order, product and service are both excellent, keep up the good work.
You know I think you are great to deal with, this is my second purchase from Modern Gent.
Really quick and easy to use! Thank you for making it a pleasure to shop here! Will be buying from you again!
Excellent shopping experience found everything very easily pleasure to shop with yourselves will recommend. Thank you.
You have a very quick, easy to use and practical website. Many thanks.
Very happy to find the product I wanted, efficient ordering process :)
This site was very easy to use, and great value. Jackie Owen, West Midlands
Very easy to navigate, select and checkout - makes such a pleasant change! Well done!
Brilliant, very easy to use website. Looking forward to receiving goods.
An easy site to use. Great!
Very nice, quick ordering process!
Swift and easy - brilliant! Thanks
Lovely stuff! Very classy.
Modern Gent Ltd, 34 Arlington Road, Camden, London NW1 7HU, UK
Fuzzy Brush - Ice Mint