This production, a one person show by Lisa Turner, tells the story of Iphigenia, using Glucks music and dance. The intention is to integrate choreography into the dramatic progression of the piece.
Glucks opera Iphigenie en Tauride tells the story of the mythological character Iphigenia, the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Agamemnon is ordered to sacrifice his daughter, but at the last minute she avoids being sacrificed and instead becomes a priestess. Meanwhile, as this is Greek tragedy, her mother kills her father then her brother Orestes kills their mother and is driven mad as a punishment. Ultimately, in a happy ending, Iphigenia recognises her brother and they are reconciled.
Lisa Turner is a former member of City Opera and also has a Diploma In Dance. Her intention in devising this production was to try to bring opera and dance together and to develop a new way of producing baroque opera. Her performance takes place on a bare stage, empty of props apart from a chair. She begins by singing the opening part of the opera, largely unchanged. Subsequent parts are changed, abbreviated and put into a different context in order to concentrate on the character and life of Iphigenia. Her singing is extremely good and consistently holds the attention of the audience. Her dancing, while adding to the performance, is less effective, partly because of the limitations of a single dancer on a small stage. Overall, a very interesting and enjoyable short programme, which will probably appeal to only a small audience. Lisa Turner is to be commended for putting on the show.
