"OPERATIC START TO NEW SEASON"

SMETANA'S 'THE BARTERED BRIDE' BY MID WALES OPERA IN THE SHREWSBURY MUSIC HALL

This year's Shropshire Music Trust season started with its customary Mid Wales Opera at The Shrewsbury Music Hall. The audience was treated to Smetana's ‘The Bartered Bride’ but with the action set in a 1930's Welsh village rather than the original 1830’s Czech one. The transformation worked well with an eye-catching opening scene during the overture and clever changes of costume giving the impression of a cast of dozens.

Through the excellent direction of Stephen Medcalf the three act storyline maintained a momentum which a lesser Opera company would struggle to achieve. This was helped by the MWO Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Keith Darlington who led the players through rattling good folk choruses, dances, duets and solos, always keeping the action alive.

The cast was lead by Camilla Roberts as Myfanwy and Adrian Dwyer as Joseph. The storyline is of three young people who manage to overthrow the local marriage broker, Kettle, in his desire to arrange their marriages. He is thwarted by Joseph in a clever deception over the identity of two sons and the opera ends happily. The underlying story of disjointed and split families seems just as alive today as it was when first written.

The next SMT performance is the Alberni String Quartet at Concord College on 22nd October.

Bob Dargan, 26 Sep 2006