Teseo

Teseo is not one of Handel's best works but it is musically beautiful and stylistically distinctive. And the passion and humanity that we can see in the characters make up for the convoluted story. This production could have been a little better but has a huge amount to recommend. The humour can at times feel hammy and heavy-handed, the costumes do look rather sparse and garish(Medea's worked though because it suited her character perfectly), the men do look rather unrefined and it doesn't match their voices and Thomas Diestler does sound strained. Flaws aside, the staging on the most part is witty and passionate, with most of the comedy and serious drama elements well pitched, especially credible in the scarily commanding yet human characterisation of Medea(even her quite subtly seductive entrance). The settings are minimal but the sliding screens that serve also as the scene changes are very inventive and seamless. The production is very well videographed and the sound doesn't hinder the music at all. Musically it is outstanding, apart from Diestler not sounding as comfortable in his role as the rest. The orchestra especially the woodwind/reeds play in a relaxed way but with the tautness that makes the music exciting(Amarti Si Vorrei, Il Ciel, Il Ciel Lo Sé's lute accompaniment could have been more projected though), the chorus are very good and well-rehearsed and the conductor keeps things together beautifully. The six soloists all have great things about them and over half are faultless. Diestler may disappoint vocally but he doesn't characterisation-wise, some of the funniest moments are provided by him and he does bring a human side, while Martin Wölfell sings with real expression and uses his voice very strikingly, Egeo's fallibility is very convincing here. Miriam Meyer sounds as clear as a bell and Sharon Rostorf-Zamir sings with gentle lyricism. Maria Riccarda Wesseling's voice is both powerful and subtle, with evidence of agility, characterisation-wise her Medea is deranged in a scary way but there are shades of vulnerability that are most touching. Jacek Laszkowski is along with Wesseling the standout of this Teseo, he is very compellingly forceful and while he shows lots of beautiful tone that rings out thrillingly on top as well as a great dynamic range and hitting high notes with abandon and no fear at all. All in all, musically outstanding and mostly passionate and witty though there are a few aspects that fall short. 7.5/10 Bethany Cox