THE RETURN OF ULYSSES
TO HIS HOMELAND
What a wonderful opera
performance! Even though this opera by Claudio Monteverdi is from year 1640 and the story is from
Homer, it is definitely worth seeing. Baroque operas are not shown that often
in Finland, so it is great, that there was a chance to enjoy it at the concert
hall of Metropolia. The Conservatory concert hall is also easily reachable by
public transportation, since it is literally only a stone throw away from
Ruoholahti metro station.
The story seemed quite
complicated when I read it in the programme leaflet, which is rather typical
for baroque operas, but when you see it on the stage, it is not so difficult to
follow who is who.
The set was almost
non-existent: only pictures thrown on the back wall and a chair that was
present in some scenes, but I didn’t actually feel that there was need for
anything more. Costumes were also very suitable from Penelope’s Greek style
widow’s garment to totally absurd holiday outfits of most of the other people
on stage.
The most wonderful
part of the opera was, of course, the music itself. The opera was full of
excellent singers. I had real difficulties picking up my personal favourites,
but perhaps, just perhaps, they were Katariina Heikkilä as Penelope and Jarno
Lehtola as Telemaco. Heikkilä’s voice was so beautiful and full-bodied. And
Lehtola’s tenor voice was super suitable for this role. I only hoped that he
had had more to sing!
I also liked the dance
group Physical Opera that performed “on the background”. They actually in
certain scenes were the set e.g. when they were the waves of the sea. And the
Helsinki Monteverdi Orchestra also sounded very good in my ears, even though I
am not a huge specialist in baroque music.
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| Brochure: Jenni Väre |
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