DELIBES - LAKMÉ

Lakmé – Allison Bell

Gerald – Philip O'Brien

Malilka – Antomia Sotgiu

Nilakantha – Graeme Broadbent

Ellen – Pamela Hay

Rose – Katherine Bond

Miss Benton – Anne Collins

Frederic – Grant Doyle

Conductor – Noel Davies

Director – Tom Hawkes

Designer – Peter Rice

Choreographer – Jenny Weston

Opera Holland Park 7 July 2007

All credit to Opera Holland Park for providing its audience with a rare chance to see Delibes' Lakmé, although a number may well conclude that they won't find it necessary to see it again...

It is one of those pieces where a trivial plot can be transformed into an exotic showpiece by grandiose sets and colourful costumes. The spectacle reaches its height in the market place scene with its procession and ballet sequence of three contrasted dances.

All this is realised on a somewhat modest scale at Holland Park, but the slender resources were used to good effect. Peter Rice's designs, with a wealth of authentic period details, were delightful, Jenny Watson's choreography was splendidly inventive, with the occasional cry from the park's peacocks adding to the effect.

Delibes assembles a whole string of pleasing melodies, and two big tunes that have achieved a permanent place in the classical charts.

The title role is a taxing one, requiring a very high soprano. Allison Bell made a good showing in the famous Bell Song, but was sometimes less assured elsewhere. In the equally famous Flower duet she was a little overwhelmed by Antonia Sotgiu's much stronger mezzo.

Generally it is an ensemble piece, with all cast members contributing to the success of the evening and ably supported by the ever solicitous conducting of Noel Davies. I can't resist mentioning Anne Collins' delicious cameo as the over-fussy governess (curiously, the programme lists this as her OHP debut, though I am sure there will be many regular attendees who share my memories of her as The Mother in that wonderful Simon Callow production of The Consul).

The weather was balmy at last and an atmosphere of contentment prevailed.

Serena Fenwick

Photo (OHP) Allison Bell & Antomia Sotgiu