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# Aldeburgh, Snape Maltings, Dardanus by Jean-Philippe Rameau, IOCO Review, 18.11.2017
- URL: https://www.ioco.de/aldeburgh-snape-maltings-dardanus-by-jean-philippe-rameau-ioco-review-18-11-2017/
- Published: 2017-11-18T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2023-09-06T12:42:16.000Z
- Author: Redaktion
- Tags: Oper & Operette, Konzert & Liederabend, Kritiken

![Aldeburgh Festival / Snape Maltings Concert Hall © Philip Vile](https://storage.ghost.io/c/38/f5/38f5739d-f8a2-4e7b-96ed-d56cfbedb61b/content/images/ioco-oper/mein-content/dateien/uploads/2017/11/1-aldeburgh-music-and-snape-maltings-concert-hall-c-philip-vileneu.jpg "Aldeburgh Festival / Snape Maltings Concert Hall © Philip Vile")

Aldeburgh Festival / Snape Maltings Concert Hall © Philip Vile

[Snape Maltings Aldeburgh Festival](https://snapemaltings.co.uk/season/aldeburgh-festival/?ref=ioco.de)

# Aldeburgh / Snape Maltings - A Place of Energy and Inspiration

**Aldeburgh** in Suffolk, UK, is known worldwide for its arts festival devoted mainly to classical music. The festival was founded in 1948 by **Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears** and **Eric Crozier.** To allow a large venue for the festival, **Benjamin Britten,** 1913 - 1976, who had lived in Snape, a village, just outside of Aldeburgh, converted a large former malthouse (see foto above) into a concert hall. Most of the malting’s original character, such as the square malthouse roof-vents, was retained. This very special ex-malting **Concert Hall** was opened by   **Queen Elizabeth** in 1967.

![Snape Maltings Concert Hall © Matt Jolly](https://storage.ghost.io/c/38/f5/38f5739d-f8a2-4e7b-96ed-d56cfbedb61b/content/images/ioco-oper/mein-content/dateien/uploads/2017/11/snape-maltings-concert-hall-photo-credit-matt-jollyneu.jpg "Snape Maltings Concert Hall © Matt Jolly")

Snape Maltings Concert Hall © Matt Jolly

**Aldeburgh and Snape Maltings have since become a place of energy and inspiration – one of the world’s leading centres of music and a visitor destination of outstanding natural beauty: Located by the sea, 106 miles northeast of London. *IOCO* visited Aldeburgh and Snape, also for an opera performance there.**

# ***Dardanus* by Jean-Philippe Rameau**

BY **Janet Banks**

![ Benjamin Britten's grave in St. Peter and St Paul's Church, Aldeburgh © IOCO](https://storage.ghost.io/c/38/f5/38f5739d-f8a2-4e7b-96ed-d56cfbedb61b/content/images/ioco-oper/mein-content/dateien/uploads/2017/11/bb-grab-3-neuneu.jpg " Benjamin Britten's grave in St. Peter and St Paul's Church, Aldeburgh © IOCO")

Benjamin Britten's grave in St. Peter and St Paul's Church, Aldeburgh © IOCO

When **Jean-Philippe Rameau** reworked his tragedie lyrique ***Dardanus*** he dispensed with the gods altogether and did away with spectacle. The resulting 1744 version, though a lot less exciting visually than its original, admirably suits the needs of a travelling company such as **English Touring Opera,** who appeared at the concert hall founded by **Benjamin Britten** from a 19th\-century maltings to be the home of his Aldeburgh Festival.

Director **Douglas Rintoul** sets the opera in a modern-day war zone, with soldiers, including ***Dardanus*** and his rival ***Antenor,*** in camouflage and the chorus dressed as if they are living on the streets. When the chorus is pressing the king to kill the captive ***Dardanus,*** one of them pulls out a can and sprays ***‘MORT’*** on the back wall. There has obviously been a conscious decision not to include dance in the production, in spite of interludes which would seem to call for it, and the only colour comes from multi-coloured marbled lighting effects representing the magic of the sorcerer ***Ismenor,*** and the red flares of off-stage fighting.

![Snape Maltings UK / Dardanus by Rameau - Ensemble © Jane Hobson](https://storage.ghost.io/c/38/f5/38f5739d-f8a2-4e7b-96ed-d56cfbedb61b/content/images/ioco-oper/mein-content/dateien/uploads/2017/11/eto-a17-dardanus-creditjane-hobsonneu.jpg "Snape Maltings UK / Dardanus by Rameau - Ensemble © Jane Hobson")

Snape Maltings UK / Dardanus by Rameau - Ensemble © Jane Hobson

The positive effect of the sparse staging and muted lighting is to throw into greater relief the beauty of **Rameau’s** music. **Anthony Gregory** sings the title role of ***Jupiter’s*** son **Dardanus** with a voice capable of moving the listener with very credible emotion, from his ecstasy in love in Act 2, to his despair imprisoned in a cell at the opening of Act 4.The object of his desire, ***Iphise,*** the daughter of his enemy, is sung by **Galina Averina** with a light and flexible soprano, suited to music of the period but nonetheless capable of real richness on the high notes. **Frederick Long** is authoritative as the sorcerer ***Ismenor,*** whose spells bring about a happy outcome, while **Timothy Nelson** as ***Iphise’s*** rejected fiancé, excels in his expressive middle range. **Eleanor Penfold** steps from the chorus to sing an exquisite aria calling for peace at the end of Act 3, a still point in the action and one of the evening’s most beautiful moments.

The period instrument players of the Old Street Band under the direction of **Jonathan Williams** play **Rameau’s** score with crispness and precision.

\---| IOCO Kritik Snape Maltings Aldeburgh Festival |---