Under review: Hip hip hooray

Hippolyte et Aricie, Glyndebourne, 29 June 2013

My word, what to say? Given the density of the drama and the less than easy score, Jonathan Kent and designer Paul Brown clearly went for spectacle, campery and silliness – and a pretty obvious bit of symbolism with the whole refrigerator thing. And for the most part they stuck with that idea, excepting a section set in some weirdly retro vision of modern suburban life only made more silly by a stage filled with prancing matelots – don’t ask. I, for one, was glad, all the silliness kept me alert and focused my mind on the music which, despite being at times monotone, did have delightful moments, in particular the duet in act IV in which Ed Lyon and Christiane Karg shine. William Christie drove the Orchestra of The Age of Enlightenment on with an assured hand and a precise idea of what he wanted us to hear and feel. Visually it may be a mess but a rather tasy one which, forgive me continuing the metaphor, is like one of those delicious dinners that one makes from leftovers found in the fridge.
Andrew Kay