Hamlet (Brett Dean) at Glyndebourne

[Belgrove]

This has been getting pretty positive reviews in the press; we're looking forward to going next week. It's being shown in a cinema broadcast on 6th July and will be on tour in the autumn. Anyone been or going?

[Dave2002]

Stunning production. If you can get to it do so - preferably live.

Difficult to say why, but I much preferred it to the Exterminating Angel at ROH, which I still contend was something to miss. The Hamlet is absolutely gripping - particularly toward the end. John Tomlinson was superb in his relatively minor roles, as was Allan Clayton as Hamlet. The remainder of the cast were pretty much to match though - very good.

The spatial effects were an added benefit in the Glyndebourne house - will probably get lost in other venues and in the cinema.

Probably worth booking for the Tour later - if you can get to it, and I might try for that to see it again back at Glyndebourne - which is often a better and even cheaper way to see productions than waiting for a "place near you" - though I realise that not everyone can get down there

I have been less enthusiastic than some about cinema productions, but it's very definitely worth a shot.

[Belgrove]

It's always difficult to gauge the quality of a new work from a single performance, but I left Hamlet on Tuesday with the impression that this was the real deal, a music drama that was intensely dramatic and containing (at the very least) some highly effective music. Turning a work as familiar as Hamlet into an opera will always prompt asking the question whether the music provides an enhancement, was it worth all that effort?

First, it's different from the Hamlet we know. The words are familiar (albeit using extracts from some less than familiar editions), but can come in a different order and are sung by different characters. And yet this recasting and streamlining made the story more coherent than any version of the play I have seen. It moves at express-train pace and compels from the start.

Second, the music can make the hairs on ones neck stand on end, in the eerie electronically enhanced ghost scenes, in the arresting orchestral tutti and chorus (located in the auditorium) that opens dramatically the helter-skelter second act, in the sublime close of the work when Horatio eulogies his dead friend to an exquisite viola solo (Brett Dean's instrument). So it passes the test by virtue of not being just the play plus music, but a reworking of it that can be judged on its own terms.

What does it sound like? It recalled the sound worlds of Britten's Nocturne, of Berg's more luscious lyrical episodes, of Ligeti's microtonal slides, that effectively portray the decaying and distempered minds of most of the principals that populate this work. It's not especially 'difficult' music, but seemed entirely appropriate. Like all new music, it will take several listenings to sink in. The vocal lines are skilfully written for the voice (like Benjamin, unlike Ades). It was great to see Jurowski conducting the LPO with his characteristic clarity, precision and enthusiasm.

The casting was of such quality to give this work the finest possible launch. Allan Clayton as Hamlet was a hyperactive force of nature, on stage practically for the whole work - it's a huge role. Barbara Hannigan as Ophelia has a mad scene as good as any in opera. I could go on, but the entire cast was musically without fault and the acting excellent. So, I liked it - a lot! The best thing is to see it at the remaining performances at Glyndebourne, on the Autumn tour, or at the cinema relay on 6th July.

[verismissimo]

Well, encouraged by Belgrove, Dave and other reviewers, I went to the cinema relay at the lovely Phoenix in Oxford. I too liked it. It's a remarkable piece of work by Brett Dean and his librettist Matthew Jocelyn - as Belgrove says, much clearer than any stage production I've ever seen (and I've seen a lot!). Echoes, as Belgrove says, of Britten, Berg and Ligeti.

Terrific cast - Hamlet/Allan Clayton, Ophelia/Barbara Hannigan, Gertrude/Sarah Connolly, Claudius/Rod Gilfry/Polonius/Kim Begley, Ghost-Gravedigger-Player1/John Tomlinson. Vladimir Jurowski amazing in control of multitude of forces and utterly convincing production by Neil Armfield.

In summary, I was completely engaged throughout, but ... I wasn't really moved by it. Was this because Clayton's Hamlet was bonkers from the outset? Or because Hannigan went over the top again? Or because the orchestral detail and spatial effects were diminished in a cinema relay?

Anyway, a major event.

[Bax-of-Delights]

Just for information, "Hamlet" is available on Playback on the Glyndebourne website from now until July 13th.

[Belgrove]

This is being broadcast on BBC4 on 22/10 at 9pm.

[underthecountertenor]

This is being broadcast on BBC4 on 22/10 at 9pm.

Wasn't aware of the Otello BBC4 broadcast, and would have missed this too, so thanks for the heads up. Having seen it at Glyndebourne, I'm greatly looking forward to revisiting it on TV.

[Dave2002]

This is being broadcast on BBC4 on 22/10 at 9pm.

Presumably the Fesival production. We went back to see the Tour version yesterday at Glyndebourne Still very high quality production, though cast members have changed. Overall very similar to what we saw in the summer - with extremely good performances throughout.
The grave digger/ghost/player 1 (Brian Bannatyne-Scptt) is good, and presents a different view from John Tomlinson who was superb in the summer. Ophelia (now Jennifer France) is if anything better - particularly in the mad sceenes - though that's not to discredit the earlier singers.

I don't know if I can say I like the music, but as a dramatic production this is stunning. This is one work, like Wozzeck, where the overall effect is terrific - and it seems to be much more than the sum of its parts. I'm not even sure that I like Shakespeare's version much - but Brett Dean manages to make some sort of sense of the whole thing, and I have now found it more gripping than a stage play on two occasions.

I don't really know if it will work on TV - probably not. This really is a production to see and hear live.

There are some odd things - such as the outburst of "Laertes will be king" - which obviously doesn't come to pass - did Shakespeare write that?
Also apart from the general ambience there are surround effects in the opera house which will probably be lost in a recording or TV presentation.
Also, I wonder if dynamic compression will be used for the TV presentation - again losing impact.
If you can watch on TV then ideally one would want to use high quality speakers etc., as otherwise what's left of the aural effects will be lost. I doubt that it's going to have a surround sound option, though maybe a later DVD or Blu Ray of a performance will provide that - assuming that one is/has been made.

You might not find it gripping on TV, but believe me - it is really good in live productions.

If you can get to Glyndebourne to see it - and if there are any tickets available - do so - there are two more performances. Otherwise it goes on tour, and hopefully the experience will still turn out to be worthwhile.

[Dave2002]

I rather like the write up about the TV programme - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09bxg0p (Show more to see the full text)

The final line - "Many deaths ensue" - very succinct.

Actually I make it six - but maybe I missed one.

Hamlet, Laertes, Claudius, Gertrude, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

[Stanley Stewart]

Erm, Dave,....the missing character in your list of fatalities is Polonius!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Erm, Dave,....the missing character in your list of fatalities is Polonius!

Well - I was going to add Ophelia, but then I realized that Dave was referring to the last sentence on the website blurb which is referring to the number of deaths that ensue from the duel.

[Stanley Stewart]

Ah,....mind over matter! We live and learn, sometimes! Anyhow, I've now set
the recorder for several programmes this evening - a splendid second week of goodies on
BBC 4, hoping that the scheduling will stay in this vein.

[Conchis]

Erm, Dave,....the missing character in your list of fatalities is Polonius!

Ophelia takes it up to eight

And, if you want to be pernickity, 'Gonzago' takes it up to nine.

[Dave2002]

Ophelia takes it up to eight

And, if you want to be pernickity, 'Gonzago' takes it up to nine.

SS and Conchis: fhg sums it up correctly. The point is that there are six arising out of the duelling, which is what I think the text for tonight's broadcast intended.

I hope you all enjoy it whether you watch it or record it. If you don't like and you record it, then you can always wipe it later on.

[Bert Coules]

I watched some of this but felt about it exactly what I felt about the Searle version when I saw it at the Garden: the music adds nothing and takes away a very great deal: I'm afraid I just don't see the point of setting such a powerful text to music that can't match, let alone enhance, the emotional impact of the drama. But I have to admit that contemporary music doesn't speak to me in any genre so presumably the fault - and the loss - is mine.