I was thrilled to be asked to join the team at Birmingham Opera Company for their 2014 production of Modest Mussorgsky's Khovanskygate: A National Enquiry, but now we are in the final weeks of rehearsal I am even more ecstatic to be part of such a wonderful cast.
This week we finally got to see the pieces of this very confusing puzzle start to come together. Running the acts in order, I am finally beginning to understand what on earth is going on! And I am utterly amazed by the beauty of the music and the glory of the singing. Having worked with some of the principle cast and chorus mentors before I know how strong Graham's cast are, but somehow in this space, with this music, they are bigger and richer and more impressive than ever.
Watching Paul Nilon rehearse is like a master class in singing, and even in the huge space of The Freedom Tent, you can hear every panicked word. Keel Watson fills the space with gorgeous rich sound which washes over you, making him the perfect man to lead us all to the new world. Claudia Huckle's rich contralto timbre is warm and full and her control is simply stunning. Stephanie Corley gives a heart-wrenchingly convincing performance as Emma, the victim of Andrei Khovansky's sexual attack in Act I and has almost caused the audience tovery cast member, including those small roles being sung by chorus mentors, fits perfectly together to make a rich and varied sound world which I am thrilled to be part of. It also helps that the whole cast are encouraging, warm and great fun to work alongside - even when we're committing mass suicide.
This week we finally got to see the pieces of this very confusing puzzle start to come together. Running the acts in order, I am finally beginning to understand what on earth is going on! And I am utterly amazed by the beauty of the music and the glory of the singing. Having worked with some of the principle cast and chorus mentors before I know how strong Graham's cast are, but somehow in this space, with this music, they are bigger and richer and more impressive than ever.
Watching Paul Nilon rehearse is like a master class in singing, and even in the huge space of The Freedom Tent, you can hear every panicked word. Keel Watson fills the space with gorgeous rich sound which washes over you, making him the perfect man to lead us all to the new world. Claudia Huckle's rich contralto timbre is warm and full and her control is simply stunning. Stephanie Corley gives a heart-wrenchingly convincing performance as Emma, the victim of Andrei Khovansky's sexual attack in Act I and has almost caused the audience tovery cast member, including those small roles being sung by chorus mentors, fits perfectly together to make a rich and varied sound world which I am thrilled to be part of. It also helps that the whole cast are encouraging, warm and great fun to work alongside - even when we're committing mass suicide.
- Prince Ivan Khovansky - Eric Greene
- The Scribbler - Paul Nilon
- Dosifey - Keel Watson
- Prince Vasily Golitsin - Jeff Lloyd Roberts
- Shaklovity - Robert Winslade Anderson
- Prince Andrei Khovansky - Joseph Guyton
- Marfa - Claudia Huckle
- Emma - Stephanie Corley
- Susanna - Hannah Mason
