Grétry's Zemira and Azor performed by Bampton Opera

    Bampton Classical Opera offers rare, neglected operas that you may have only one chance in your life to hear. Grétry's Zemira and Azor is one of them - a version of the tale of Beauty and the Beast, it was a great hit in its time, and was closely studied by Mozart, who owned a score. The present version, of 1776, has sung recitatives, rather than the original spoken dialogue, so it is an opera buffa, like Mozart's Marriage of Figaro, with some touches of opera seria.  

   The score is spirited, tuneful and inventive, with many fine arias, duets and ensembles including a remarkable quartet for the heroine Zemira, her two sisters and her father Sandro, baritone Samuel Pantcheff, who has sung with Bampton before.(https://www.samuelpantcheff.com/) 

While all the singers were excellent, soprano Ffion Edwards (https://ffionedwards.com/) deserves special mention. She has star quality, a lovely silvery voice and was perfect for the rôle of Zemira ("Beauty") as was apparent even in Act 2.  In Act 3 she was more than equal to the very demanding virtuoso "Bird aria" carrying it off with assurance. And in the later scenes she sang with poignancy and pathos, when the fearsome Beast reveals his own vulnerable side. 

   As the Beast, alias Prince Azor, Gwilym Bowen, tenor,(https://www.gwilymbowen.com/) with a strong and brilliant voice, also gave an outstanding performance. The rams-horn mask made made him just deformed enough to be scary without being utterly monstrous. At the end he is, of course, transformed into a handsome young prince.

    The rôle of Alì, the clever, comic servant, was entertainly sung by tenor Andrew Irwin,(https://andrewirwintenor.com/) who has performed two rôles to acclaim at Longborough Opera. 

    While this production is a triumph, from a musical point of view, and it is an advantage in some ways for Bampton Opera to have a new, indoor venue in the dining-hall at Cokethorpe School, it was not ideally laid out for the performance. It would be better to have one central stage with the orchestra (led by Caroline Balding) at the side. Since some chairs are higher than others, it would be a good idea to place the higher ones at the back, and for the back rows to be raked up somehow to ensure the audience can see. And perhaps warn the audience, all except the front rows, to bring cushions. Or, alternatively, would Cokethorpe School permit use of another building it apparently owns, "The Shed"? It is described as "A purpose-built, 200-seat black-box theatre, fully equipped with professional lighting, tiered seating, and an advanced soundboard for school plays, lectures, and community events."

   There are two more performances of this production of Zemira and Azor, (conducted by Andrew Griffiths and directed byJeremy Gray) at different venues, in August and September, so if you are reading this in July you havent missed it, and you can book on the website, link below:-

Monday 31 August – Westonbirt Orangery (GL8 8QG)
Friday 18 September – Smith Square Hall (formerly St John's Smith Square), London SW1P 3HA

https://bamptonopera.org/booking.htm

Bampton Classical Opera is a registered charity, supported by donors and friends, without whom this admirable production could not take place.

Photo courtesy of Bampton Classical Opera.