A world famous opera “like no other” will make it’s way to African soil for the first time this year. Russian-American composer Igor Stravinsky’s moral comedy The Rake’s Progress, written in 1947, tells of a young libertine’s fall from grace with Mozartian wit.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Stravinsky’s death and the 60th anniversary of the premiere of The Rake’s Progress.
Stravinsky’s inspiration for the opera came from a series of artwork of the same name, which he had seen on show in Chicago in 1947. The paintings were the work of William Hogarth, the British artist and satirist. With the help of accomplished collaborators WH Auden and Chester Kallman, Stravinsky created a brilliant variation on Hogarth’s moral narrative.
In the opera, Tom Rakewell leaves his sweetheart, Anne Trulove, after inheriting a fortune. He then begins a hard-partying lifestyle. Only after losing his fortune, his true love and his sanity does he learn that “for idle hands and hearts and minds the devil finds a work to do”.
The Rake’s Progress is a co-production by Cape Town Opera and the UCT Opera School. Conductor Kamal Khan says the piece initially became famous for its “great difficulty for performing”.
He says it is an extraordinary testament to the opera’s musicality that to this day it challenges singers and instrumentalists to push the boundaries of their talents.
“Everything about it doesn’t feel like any opera that has been written before. It’s as almost as if Stravinsky thought we had taken a mis-step and had connected the dots in a different sort of way,” says Khan.
He feels the world has finally caught up with this piece. For instance, in our country “we are generating more singers with the capacities to sing Mozart well. And the person who can sing Mozart well can sing this well.”
“We are generating quite big voices for the big repertoire, but for my students to have the appropriate set of skills and to be able to be competitive on the international scene, they need the discipline of what is referred to as the neoclassical style.”
And this is exactly what this production offers. It will feature crisp neoclassical choreography by Sean Bovim and stylish modern sets by Tina Driedijk as well as eye-popping costumes by Maritha Visagie.
With award-winning director Matthew Wild in the director’s chair, the production features nine different scenes set in the 18th century but with modern references.
“It’s very fresh, energetic, and suitable for young singers to work on,” says Wild.
It is also a great introductory piece for first-time opera goers because “people who love design, galleries and contemporary dance will love it”.
He adds: “The story is fast-paced. It’s accessible and easy on the ear.”
The local adaptation will also have a few African twists.
Wild explains: “There are tiny bits of African print here and there. We are going to use a lot of African hair, braids and weaves.”
He also says “the costumes project the 18th century feel”.
“The cut is simplified with modern fabrics, for example, a beautiful 18th century coat will be made out of denim.”
According to Driedijk, the set designs are playful with themes of board games, charts, dices and cards “inspired by Dutch designer Marcelle Wanders and his design groups ‘Droog’ and ‘Moooi’ who is well-known in contemporary pieces”.
Here’s hoping this opera will rake in music lovers.
l Catch The Rake’s Progress at the Baxter Theatre from August 30 to September 3.