Review: I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI, The Vaults

Pop-up Opera are back with a new take on Vincenzo Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi. Shying away from an elitist view of one of the composer's most notable works, the company has created an accessible, unpretentious, and smart production.

Stemming from the same source Shakespeare used for Romeo and Juliet and yet not quite the same story, the opera first premiered in 1830 in Venice.

In the Capulets and Montagues' fight for the control of Verona, Capellio (Andrew Tipple), the patriarch of the Capulet family, is out for blood after Romeo (Flora McIntosh), leader of the Montagues, killed his son.

Lorenzo (Richard Immerglück) helps the young lovers pursuing their illicit affair, while Tebaldo (Cliff Zammit-Stevens), ambitious general faithful to the Capulets, is after Giulietta's (Alice Privett) hand.

Initially considered quite old-fashioned, it is now made outstandingly modern by James Hurley and Barrak Dyer (stage and musical direction, respectively), who strip down the score to a single piano. Set in an unspecified contemporary time period, the production has a heavy mafia underworld vibe, which fits the storyline impeccably.

The rough industrial ambience of the set design is only heightened by The Vaults' atmosphere, with its underground noises and rugged aesthetic. Portable neon lights and scattered chairs focus the attention on the actors and their voices, while also incorporating the venue's quirks in the production.

At this performance Zammit-Stevens had to walk through his role due to medical issues, with Oliver Brignall singing his role from the side, but it did not have a massive impact. The expressive Richard Immerglück doubtlessly steals the show, even in a group of excellent performers who never merely try to sing their way out of the scene. The quintet is blood-chilling and distinguished, and Privett's fioriture are striking throughout the whole opera.

I Montecchi e i Capuleti runs at The Vaults until 8 April, sung in Italian with English captions.

To post a comment, you must register and login.