Idomeneo: Enjoy yourself or your money back!
With images exclusively from rehearsals for Idomeneo by Bridget Elliot
So confident is Pinchgut Opera of the appeal of its forthcoming production - Mozart’s Idomeneo - the Sydney-based indie company has made a bold offer to the public. Called the “No Risk Opera Experience”, they’ll refund the cost of the ticket to any first-time opera-goer who fronts up to say they didn’t enjoy the production!
Liz Nielsen, Pinchgut’s chair, says, “If you haven’t been to one of our shows before and give Idomeneo a try but don’t like it, we’ll give you a full refund.”
Aside from the obvious question: how do you prove you’re an opera virgin? There’s another catch: since it started five years ago Pinchgut Opera has developed a passionate following among those fed up with the predictable programming of Opera Australia and the virtual impossibility of seeing and hearing other operas.
As Nielsen says, “We want to attract opera lovers, especially those who like baroque opera, and also people who thought that they did not like opera. Our productions are true to the music but are also fun and enjoyable to modern audiences. We realise that some might consider it a risk to try opera for the first time so we’ll reduce that risk by making the money-back offer. But I don’t think we will have to make many refunds. I am sure most people will enjoy it.”
Not least because Idomeneo is matchless - the composer’s own favourite among his sublime works - and also because in Lindy Hume the company secured one of the best opera directors to realise it.
Lindy Hume spoke to me recently in the lead up to the launch of the third and last of what’s been her day job for the past two years: the Perth International Festival of Arts.
“I’m so pleased to be working at Pinchgut. They’re a serious team with very high expectations. It’s very much an ensemble project and I love that they only do one thing a year - and this is it.”
Idomeneo - written when Mozart was 25 is Pinchgut’s sixth annual production following previous successes with L’Orfeo, Semele, The Fairy Queen and Dardanus (now available on CD from Pinchgut).
“Idomeneo still has stuff to say to us - to this world,” says Hume. “It’s that older, guilt-ridden generation relinquishing power to a new generation. It’s about what the younger generation can be. The finale is wonderful - we now have a new beginning. Where Magic Flute is all vaudeville joy Idomeneo is the darker side. I think it’s an extraordinary prophetic piece.”
Joining Hume to create the world of Mozart is designer Dan Potra, costume designer Hamish Peters and lighting designer Bernie Tan Hays. Performing in their setting and celebrating Mozart’s 250th birthday will be young soprano Penelope Mills as Elettra, Mark Tucker - Idomeneo; Martene Grimson - Ilia; Fiona Campbell - Idamante; Paul McMahon - Arbace and Brett Weymark is the High Priest. Antony Walker conducts the orchestra (performing on authentic period instruments) and the glorious Cantillation will be the chorus.
Idomeneo, Pinchgut Opera at City Recital Hall, Angel Place; December 6,8,9,10; ph: 8256 2222 or see www.pinchgutopera.com.au.
