I didn’t mean to write about what inspired me this week. But on Tuesday I went to Glyndebourne to hear Handel’s Rinaldo. And it’s rather put everything else out of my mind.
There was a sadness to this particular visit. The one person to whom I would have expected to pour out an account of the opera is no longer with us. As a result, I knew I was a little off my game.
Only, instead, my Glyndebourne visit gave me everything back, music, magic and memory. The whole nine yards. So I thought I would share.
Opera Inspired Me
These days I’m more tolerant of kissing, as long as it doesn’t go on too long and get in the way of the music. But I can’t be doing with on-stage torture, as some of the more extreme modernist directors have offered me. Grrrr.
Glyndebourne Inspired Me
Glyndebourne is, quite simply, magic. A place of orchards and flowers, trees and water; of gentle winds and quiet. Where a warming-up soprano in a window catches the ear of a blackbird, who answers.
Christie formed a miraculous triumvirate with German exiles, conductor Fritz Busch and director Carl Ebert. Both were early and voluntary exiles, as soon as the Nazis came to power — Ebert even turned down Göring’s offer of controlling all the Berlin opera houses. They inspired me to look for others who saw the situation that clearly, that early, for my World War 2 novel.
Two smaller lakes adjoin, progressively more enclosed by woodland and stinging nettles. A younger me explored, though I don’t think many did and maybe you can’t any more.
Kind friends invited me first. On one occasion Peter Hall, director of that season’s Barber of Seville, joined our party at the interval dressed in bow tie, smoking jacket — and gardening trousers. His leading lady had sent an SOS. He had been mowing the lawn. She was his wife. No contest.
But that still moment when the lights go down inspired me on Tuesday, as it has inspired me all my life. Breath-taking.
Handel Inspired Me
Indeed, I have notes on a possible country house murder: summer 1717, rural Middlesex, Handel, still only 30, is writing music and overseeing the house band for a musical aristocrat. Then the footman who plays their only viola goes missing…
Too great a liberty? Handel is no Poirot. He might be a Georgian Lord Peter, maybe?
Rinaldo — um, had Never Inspired Me Before
Right. This where it gets a tiny bit disrespectful. Rinaldo was Handel’s debut in London. He wrote it in two weeks.
Rinaldo opened on 24th February 1711 and by April, Publisher John Walsh was offering “All the Songs set to Musick in the last new Opera call’d Rinaldo” for amateurs to have a go at.
Addison (who had spectacularly failed as a librettist himself) was spiteful, and his fellow-Spectator, Richard Steele, also mocked the spectacle. But basically the Spectator hated Rinaldo because it was in Italian. Foreigners ought to learn and write in English “and not to be so insolent”, as three of Handel and Hill’s rivals wrote in a letter to The Spectator in December 1711.
So — I’ve always thought of Rinaldo as a bit of a recycled ragbag. John Gay even pinched the March for his Highwaymen in The Beggar’s Opera. It swings along nicely to the English words: Let us take the road. I hear the sound of coaches, the hour of attack approaches, and we are for the road,” as far as I remember. I have been known to sing it in the bath. While splashing.
Rinaldo this Time
The conceit is that the whole plot is not a Crusader battle at all, but a story in the mind of a bullied schoolboy. Rinaldo casts his bullying classmates as adoring subordinate soldiers and a nasty teacher as the enemy general, with a dominatrix school mistress as his sorceress-lover.
It’s inspired. They go to war on bicycles. The Sirens are pure St Trinians. All very teenage.
Da Capo arias are supposed to set out theme, then the reverse emotion, then repeat theme, now enhanced by emotions aroused by the reverse. Doesn’t always work. A friend of mine won’t come to Handel because of what he calls the old plod of Da Capo. I suppose it means roughly,”from the top, one more time, boys” and you do need to add “with feeling”.
But as soon as the villain sang his first aria on Tuesday, I knew that this time it was working, and how. Mind you, I was so stunned I didn’t applaud in time — along with the rest of the audience. For which I apologise. Bass baritone Brandon Cedel sang beautifully and played Argante, even at his most daft, with total conviction. Irresistible.
In one way “Sibillar gli angui d’Aletto” was textbook. “I’m angry” Argante sings, striding about to trumpets. Then — I can still feel the chill up my spine — “I’m poisoned by fear”. So when the first theme comes back again, you know that while he’s stamping about in fury, he’s really trying to psych himself up. Stunning. (And then you get the aria to the sorceress he’s in love with, dependent on, controlled by…. and there’s a whole conflicted character just in that one song.)
So I was wrong. And so were Addison and Steele. Rinaldo is not a ragbag. This is white-hot creativity at its best.
And that, too, has inspired me. To infinity — well to the end of the current MS in the immediate future, anyway — and beyond!
Uplifted this post as it brought back great memories. I admit to never having seen or heard Rinaldo, but I’ve been to Glyndebourne quite a few times – magical experiences. I’ve been an opera fan for decades, since my teens. I have most of my Great Aunt’s collection of librettos and opera books, some from the turn of the last century. Among my prize possessions is the complete Ring Cycle on LP, conducted by Georg Solti – 1958-1964 – which I was given as a 21st birthday present in 1974. Off to see what my Great Aunt wrote in her Kobbe’s about Rinaldo – she noted every opera attended – with cast etc.
How fascinating, Roland. So glad you enjoyed the blog.
I wonder if and when your Great Aunt got to see Rinaldo? I remember my mother saying that she’d only ever been to Handel in the concert hall until she went to see James Bowman in Semele at the ENO in the early 70s.
I love Handel, more for his chamber works, though. If you ever get round to writing the novel in which he’s a detective, I’ll be first in the queue to buy it and read it. It could even go to a series.
That’s very encouraging, April. Thank you!
I would really love to do it – and there’s room to create Detective Handel because he still seems rather an opaque character, even after reading Jane Glover and Jonathan Keates. But I wouldn’t like to let him down. If I get up the courage, I will let you know.
Excellent.
Oddly enough, my sister went to the same production at Glyndebourne just the other week and told me about this setting. So clever, it roused my directorial instincts.
I saw an event cinema of Saul last year, so cleverly staged I was riveted. I do enjoy the music, but it’s the spectacle, if any, that captures me. Opera is able to go over the top with impunity.
Ah, Liz, yes. It would really have hit the spot with you, I think. Solved the problem of obscure, nonsense and morally dubious story allied to emotionally truthful music.
Opera does revel in excess, doesn’t it? Even though I think Handel absolutely nailed resignation, which is the reverse of that. (Am thinking of the duet between murdered Pompey’s widow and son in Julius Caesar.Heartbreaking.)
And at 25, I reckon you’re allowed, nay obliged, to go OTT from time to time.
Don’t know Julius Caesar but sounds right up my street. Agree with you that the young should enjoy revelling in OTTness.
Wonderfu!l Such joy in a blog. I am lost in envy at your experience. And please please, can we have Handel solving murder in 1717!
Oh the temptation, Liz. Mind you, my viola-playing footman is only missing so far.
Have to admit that I was partly inspired by a chap I once met who used to work for a touring theatre company between the wars. He told me the boss had once advertised for a left-handed slow bowler to play Laertes. You wonder which came first in the job interview, the bowling or the acting skills.
LOL!
Well, of course he has to be missing first – then his murdered body will be found. I think it’s a brilliant idea. Think of all the other historical figures who have become detectives: Aphra Benn, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde… And one day I will get to Glyndebourne. Leo wants to go, too. Handel was playing on the radio as I began this blog, coincidentally. A joy on a Sunday morning.
I suppose I should expect you to be bloodthirsty, Lesley. OK then. RIP, Footman.
*Looks innocent*
Glad you were inspired instead of sad. I’ll be even more glad if you are inspired to write historical detectionary…
Oh Jan, you’re like the tempter sitting on my shoulder whispering, “Write it. Go on. You know you want to. Write it now.” AAAAARGH. [Runs for current ms with hands over ears.]
Being where I am, I have to get my fix vicariously. I have Mary Burchell’s Warrender series which are a lovely glimpse into the world of opera. There is even a story around a festival like Glyndebourne. I think I recall an Elizabeth Ashton story set around a music festival from the same era in the 70’s,
Love the Warrender series, Fiona.
Mary Burchell knew a lot about opera and was a huge fan, virtually a groupie, bless her. I have the impression she helped Tito Gobbi write his autobiography, too.
Have you read her own memoir, which talks about going to opera in Germany just before the war and helping refugees? Harlequin reprinted it some years ago under the title “Safe Passage” and attributing it to her real name, Ida Cook. Originally it was published as “We Followed our Stars” by Mary Burchell. Her enthusiasm for music – and sheer courageous goodness, as well – shine through it.
I have it on my TBR along with The Essie Summers Story.
I absolutely loved this blog! Brava!.
Thank you Elizabeth. So pleased.
Wonderful, your enthusiasm and joy just shines off the page here. Thank you for sharing it with us, Sophie. I love opera although I confess I find some of it difficult but boy, when it hits the spot (as this clearly did with you) it is magical.