Jean-Philippe Rameau: Castor & Pollux

It is definitely easy to see why people will be finding themselves disliking this production of Castor Et Pollux. Seeing it for myself, there were good things to be seen, but there were also some distracting problems that didn't allow me to like it any more.

Good: There was actually a little more good than either bad or ugly in this production. It was just that the bad and ugly were infuriatingly distracting to really ignore. The best asset, other than Rameau's magnificent music, of Castor Et Pollux(2008) was the orchestral playing. It is stylish and very beautiful playing, with great attention to dynamic range and authenticity. The chorus sing with vibrancy and involvement especially in their poignant elegy, and this couldn't have been possible perhaps without the incisive leadership of Christophe Rousset. The singing and performances is also superb from all involved, while Anna Maria Panzarella has moments where she struggles vocally with the style she nonetheless gives a touching performances and her voice has a very nice sound. Veronique Gens I cannot fault, I've always loved her voice and she relishes the role of the jilted lady.

Bad: The production values. Some may like them, but more likely most won't. Unfortunately I was one of those who didn't. And it wasn't just because they looked tacky. They also seemed to be made up of three or more different periods. The braided hair made the singers look like aborigines, then they were dressed like architects and then the minimalist sets actually looked as though the production was set in space. It was just weird. The sound quality is mostly strong, but takes some time to warm up. To start with, to me it sounded as though it had been recorded in a bathroom.

Ugly: The worst asset has to be the choreography. If it was in parts I wouldn't have minded, the problem was that it happened the entire time. If it was good choreography I also wouldn't have minded, instead there is no elegance and too much finger pointing and fight-like moves. This choreography should have been lively and elegant, instead it was tedious and ill-fitting with the music. Some of the performers even looked awkward doing it.

Overall, great musical values, unappealing and weird visuals and really distracting(in the most negative way regarding opera) choreography and staging make for a disappointing but not terrible performance of Castor Et Pollux. 6/10 Bethany Cox