The setting for Scottish Opera’s interpretation of Igor Stravinsky’s and Jean Cocteau’s Oedipus Rex is the Grand Gallery of the National Museum of Scotland. This spectacular gallery is usually the heart of the Museum’s displays about Scotland and further afield, filled with inquisitive visitors from around the world. But for this performance, the light-filled, soaring space becomes a remarkable operatic arena.
Such an epic venue entirely suits the dramatic themes of Oedipus Rex, the tragic Greek story of the eponymous king of Thebes who discovers he is a mere plaything of the gods, doomed to unknowingly murder his father and marry his mother. The gods themselves are present here, spread along the Grand Gallery’s balconies, impassively watching the horror unfold below.
If this confers Olympian status on the audience members standing on the balconies beside them, the audience on the Gallery’s floor become the citizens of Thebes. Members of a large community choir move among them, singing the role of the chorus and occasionally involving the audience in their dancing and lamentations. The Orchestra of Scottish Opera set up in the middle of the space, as the soloists range around the Gallery space, occasionally even venturing up to the balcony.
The production’s greatest strength – the amazing venue – unfortunately also places considerable constraints on the performance of the score and libretto. The high ceilings, hard surfaces and long, thin geometry of the space are all barriers to fully appreciating the opera as a musical piece. Too often, the soloists are unclear or even wholly inaudible, as they strain to reach every corner of such an awkward stage, while the orchestra often overwhelms the singing. More successful is the massed voices of the choir, which at least have the power to fill the space.
Even the mic’d up narrator struggles to make her voice heard. Taking on the role of a museum cleaner, her light-hearted, comedic take on the role is enjoyable and accessible, but also a little lightweight. It feels jarring in a fairly unremittingly bleak tale of murder, incest and tragedy.
Given its many limitations, this production may not be the purest way to hear the music of Oedipus Rex. However, as dusk falls outside the Grand Gallery’s skylights high overhead, and the choir’s voices rise past the soaring columns and ancient statues, it is certainly a unique and enjoyable experience.
Performed At: National Museum of Scotland
Sunday 18 and Monday 19 August, 20:00
Running time: 1 hour, no interval
Co-presented by Edinburgh International Festival & Scottish Opera
Conductor: Stuart Stratford
Director: Roxana Haines
Cast includes: Shengzhi Ren, Kitty Whately, Roland Wood