Imago

The name Glyndebourne inspires an expectation of quality. The words ‘community opera’ seldom inspire the same confidence, but when you put both together anything is possible.

Imago proved the point with even more conviction than one could hope for. Working with amateurs reaches extraordinary heights here, a brilliantly coached chorus, vocally and in terms of movement, stunned the audience. The design and production values were of the highest standard and the soloists shone in a work that was never easy mixing, as it did, so many musical forms and ideas. For this alone I would give top marks, a full five stars. That said I was not fully convinced by the work itself. The story was clouded by complexities in the score which at times felt like Phillip Glass at his most “Broadway” was crashing into Stephen Sondheim at his most “operatic”, and by the repetition of lyrics, over and over and over.

In balance there was great charm in the a capella wedding scene and the scenes of family life where adult and adolescent conflict was beautifully represented and sung. Soloists Jean Rigby, Joanna Songi and Adam Gilbert were all superb and the young James Brock played and sang the part of Rufus beautifully.

With so much to enjoy and to admire it seems harsh to finally say that the sheer weight of the content detracted. A few judicious cuts, the repetitions to start with, could make the whole easier to digest and more enjoyable.

Glyndebourne, 7 March 2013

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