Olivia Fuchs' production of Handel's Amadigi di Gaula for the Buxton festival reimagines the baroque opera as a Love Island-style reality show, complete with TV trickery, inflatable flamingos, and a barrage of cameras. The absurdity of Handel's magic operas often poses a challenge for directors, but Fuchs embraces it, swapping sorceresses for all-powerful producers and foolish lovers for reality TV contestants.
A small cast with big chemistry
With only four characters, chemistry is essential. Sopranos Hilary Cronin and Rowan Pierce, countertenors James Hall and Tim Morgan (the latter stepping in impressively) tangle in Handel's musical game of Twister. The absence of lower voices is notable, but Erin Helyard and the English Concert provide propulsive baroque playing, with emotive obbligato moments for oboe and bassoon.
Fuchs' endless invention sells the concept: Melissa's illusions become video trickery, her trial-by-fire a gameshow challenge, and the final act's tortures involve hair-straighteners and an eyelash-curler. Cronin's Melissa is a power-suited villain with hip-wiggles and eyebrow-raises, her coloratura shaped by every dastardly thought. Her final aria, delivered simply straight down the lens, breaks hearts.
Vocal highlights
Pierce's Oriana offers vocal silver to Cronin's gold—lighter and more delicate. Hall's vocal agility gives Dardano bite, though his 'Pena tiranna' verges on hero vibes. Morgan's hapless Amadigi gets the girl with only minor vocal sweat. The production runs at Buxton Opera House until 20 July.
