La Rondine

Puccini’s lyric opera is not often performed, perhaps because it is not a sweeping tragedy of complex characters with multiple opportunities for displays of vocal excellence, but it is a pity. It has energy and sufficient opportunities for pathos and vocal displays. This production, directed by Stuart Maunder using his varied experiences in musical theatre and opera together with the wonderful voices of Kiandra Worth (Magda) and Won Whi Choi (Ruggero), revealed its possibilities.

The story, like many operas, is about the vagaries of love. The first two acts are occupied with two couples finding love and the audience is carried along on the crest of some lovely arias, “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” being notable. Librettist Giuseppe Adami has provided a story which rests on the moral dilemma Magda wrestles with after an initial easy lie locks her into ongoing deceit. The prolonged beginning to Magda and Ruggero’s relationship and the crucial weight of their love in the story does provide a challenge to the director because their attraction must be of such harrowing importance that it calls the moral questions into being. Stuart Maunder left space for the two voices to answer the challenge.

The central couple, Magda and Ruggero are very ably supported by the typical, more comic couple Prunier (Douglas Kelly) and Yvette (Sarah Prestwidge). Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Michaela Cadwgan and Syrah Torii ably provided the background characters, and the Victorian Opera chorus not only sang beautifully but also provided plentiful comic moments.

The visual presentation by Richard Roberts and Gavan Swift was warm and made use of theatre staging technology with several clever touches which eased the need for extensive staging changes.

Although this opera does present challenges, this production has shown what it can be and raises the hope it will be presented more often.

Ruth Richter

Photographer: Charlie Kinross.