A terrific cast of musicians and dancers is the core of this skilfully
and carefully crafted double bill of Greek myth; one half scales the heights of intense emotion, the other conjures a dream state. First is Phaedra, Benjamin Britten’s last vocal work, written in 1975, with mezzo soprano Christine Rice compelling as the titular princess, all crazed eyes and clear diction as she is blinded by illogical love for stepson Hippolytus.
Across the rising arc of the music, with the excellent Richard Hetherington sharing the stage on piano, Rice is gripping in the role. She pulls us into Phaedra’s misery, her self-pity, her ardent certainty, her hollowness at knowing no good can come of this. It is simply staged by director Deborah Warner, and a sparse set by Antony McDonald transforms from a black to white backdrop, perfectly timed with the sudden soaring of Rice’s voice going from dark cloud to the bright blaze of full sun.
