Opera Scotland

Incoronazione di Poppea 2005Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD)

Read more about the opera Coronation of Poppea

This was an excellent evening, with about as strong a contrast in styles as you can get. The musical performance paid great attention to period style, and Christian Curnyn directed a tiny band of instruments (string sextet plus theorbo, organ and harpsichords). By contrast, Henry Mason’s staging provided a radical updating, so Arnalta became Poppea’s PA, Lucano Nero’s secretary, Liberto the head of security, and so on. It all worked very well, and Monteverdi does not threaten to strain young voices. The Traverse made an excellent, intimate new venue in Edinburgh, and it was also good to see the students touring beyond the central belt for once – it doesn’t often happen.