Haydn's L'Isola Disabitata, premiered in December 1779 is a short piece, clocking in at around 90 minutes (including an interval). This run of three performances (the first at the Royal Opera House) is part of the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme week and proved a wonderful chance to hear four new singers and see a rare opera by a well-known composer - plus, at £5 for my standing ticket, it was a bargain to boot.
The first obvious point of interest is that the opera makes use of accompanied recit throughout (so no harpsichord in the pit). Each of the four singers gets an aria or two and the piece is tied up by a final quartet. The whole thing turned out to be an absolute treat - simple yet engaging and entertaining. Anna Devin as Sylvia was the standout performance of the night although, to be fair to the other three, she did have rather more to work with in terms of character. Nevertheless her characterisation was superb, never slipping into the cloying 'little girl' acting so many actresses go for out of laziness or lack or ability (all hair twirling and cocked head). If this is anything to go by her Papagena in next year's Zauberflote will be a treat.
I find Steven Ebel (Gernando) intriguing, he's got a very distinctive voice that drags you in. I'd love to hear him in a lieder recital as I have a suspicion he could be superb.
I really hope that the ROH decides to revive this production in the near future as it was a success on pretty much every level and it would be a shame if three nights is all it's going to get.
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