Classical music and jazz: Preview - Richard Jones's production of Prokoviev's The Gambler at the Royal Opera House
Published: 25 February 2010
by HELEN LAWRENCE
PROKOVIEV'S first opera, The Gambler, based on Dostoevsky’s novella, is a tricky work to stage, rather lacking in action in the first half but then gathering pace during the second.
But Richard Jones’s new production for the Royal Opera House makes the most of it with brilliant stage pictures and superb, sometimes zany detail, including a zoo scene with a gigantic performing seal.
Having made the decision to perform the piece in an English translation, it seemed perverse for two non-English speakers to play the two central roles.
German soprano Angela Denoke lacked the vocal or sexual allure for Paulina and tenor Roberto Saccà, also from Germany, made a rather limp Alexey.
Both sounded uncomfortable grappling with the English.
However, their shortcomings were far outweighed by the superb ensemble of the large cast acting out the black farce of these rather unsympathetic characters obsessed with their gambling debts.
The Royal Opera Orchestra and Chorus performed brilliantly under Antonio Pappano’s incisive direction, contributing to an intriguing evening of theatre.
• The Gambler is performed tonight (Thursday) and on Saturday February 27. Tickets £5-£50. 0844 2091805