The Minotaur

Synopsis

Part man, part beast, the Minotaur is trapped in a labyrinth and constrained by his violent role there, yet he longs to discover his own identity and his own voice. Among the innocents of a blood sacrifice Athens must pay to Crete is Theseus, who has come to challenge the violent Minotaur, but also attracts the attention of Ariadne - and it is her help that ensures his success in the labyrinth.

Our Review:

20 January 2013

From the ponderous solemnity of the opening you get the impression Birtwistle had decided that The Minotaur would be his ‘mature masterpiece.’ Unlikely to write an opera about a Frisbee manufacturer, or an 18 to 30s holiday resort, Birtwistle opted for his usual classic ancient Greek tale. Full of ritual, full of tragedy. Very serious business.

The opera is split into three recurring sections: Dialogue between Ariadne and Theseus, the Minotaur killing ‘Innocents’ and the Minotaur’s tortured dreams in which he tries to understand his own origins. This trio of narrative, violence and dreaming is a terrific idea. It serves the story very well, and has a clear formal integrity of its own.

More darkly brooding than Birtwistle’s nimbler, brighter scores, the music of this opera is a confluence of gorgeousness and menace. Unexpected combinations of timbre and melody illuminate the monstrous atmosphere. Replacing P...

Read more of the review

Latest User Review

No reviews yet

Click here to add your review