21ST CENTURY COMPOSITION FLOURISHES IN ALL CANADIAN PRODUCTION
Story by Odessa Paloma Parker
Photo by Michael Cooper
Some may associate only murder, action and intrigue with opera, but sometimes there’s a more subtle tale to tell. In Kaija Saariaho’s Love from Afar, two people share their story of obsession and the idealization of one another, which may sound like the underpinning of typical operatic fare – but there’s a catch. They’ve never actually laid eyes on one another. Their message travels across land and sea via a messenger, a Pilgrim, and the greater message that perhaps love is better experienced from afar is carried until the mournful ending of the piece. With no stabbings or sabotage to carry the plot, you may wonder how this opera could capture an audience’s attention; quite easily, through the deft weaving of story and scenery.
The Canadian Opera Company has outdone themselves in this production, fusing old world aesthetics with modern dance and technology (the opera is based on text written in the 12th century, and the sensibility of the time period is well preserved in the set design and costuming). Video and light is incorporated to enhance the experience in a dazzling way, and acrobatic movements are integrated seamlessly thanks to the work of Daniele Finzi Pasca, who is best known for his work with Cirque du Soleil.
Such a complex production would be lost without the soulful and subtle performances of the main players. Renowned baritone Rusell Braun as the lovelorn Jaufré Rudel, Erin Wall as Clémence, and Krisztina Szabó as the Pilgrim each bring a skilled and somber approach to their characters. This is not a work punctuated by arias but rather a nuanced narrative, and the ability to tell a story so sad and unique requires a minimalistic yet gripping talent each performer possess in spades.
Love From Afar runs until February 22nd, 2012. Are you under 30? The Canadian Opera Company offers discounted seats with a special promo code!
