Proms on the Pond, Opera Anywhere, Sunningwell
9:33am Thursday 2nd August 2007
It was all fun and frolics in Sunningwell on Saturday night, as Opera Anywhere brought the village's 2007 Festival to a stunning finale with their unique Proms on the Pond. Sadly, the weather hadn't read the script, and what began as a drizzle gradually intensified into a downpour that was impossible to ignore. But the Sunningwell Prommers are an indomitable lot; the cast carried on regardless, and the audience simply donned waterproofs, put up umbrellas and stayed put. There were even some determined picnickers around the pond edge.
Undoubtedly, the quality of the performance had a lot to do with this show of fortitude. On offer was a glorious collection of operatic gems, from Gilbert and Sullivan and Offenbach to Mozart, Verdi and Puccini, all delivered with that special Opera Anywhere humour and flair. The expert hand of director Neil Jenkins, the renowned WNO tenor, was very much in evidence in the slick presentation and the ingenious use of both stage and pond. In the first half, we were treated to the opening scenes from Iolanthe, in which Iolanthe (Rebecca Kelly) actually rose from the water (in a wetsuit!), while some well-timed clowning by company co-founder Mike Woodward resulted in him falling into the water - twice!
Among the highlights of the second half were the famous Pearlfishers duet, gloriously sung by tenor Hugo Tucker and baritone Ian Gifford, and the sublime Barcarolle from The Tales of Hoffman, with the voices of soprano Julia Hessey and contralto Vanessa Woodward blending beautifully as they glided around the pond in a small boat (expertly propelled by Mike Woodward).
The programme was brought to a patriotic close with O Peaceful England and Who were the Yeomen? from Merrie England, before the audience, in true Proms style, was invited to join in with Land of Hope and Glory and Jerusalem.
This was a wonderfully entertaining evening, with good music, a talented cast and laughs a-plenty. Superb.