Well, not really, but the title was too irresistible to resist!
It seems somehow fitting that a lesser known Haydn Baroque opera called L’Isola disabitata translated as uninhabited or deserted island, a production from the Linbury Studio Theatre at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden has its first and only Australian performance in Tasmania, the state often overlooked by touring parties.
Tasmania will for once, resemble the image it holds in humorous postcards with geography turned upside down and Tasmania taking its place as the dominant island above a shrunken mainland.
Tasmania mirrors the definition of the world Baroque, a word originating in the Portuguese meaning misshapen pearl. Most would recognise Tasmania as a pearl, although not necessarily a misshapen one, unless you are looking at one of those humorous postcards!
The misshapen reference comes from the descendants of baroque who looking in hindsight, thought the periods of love of embellishment and ornamentation with its trills and repetition, a little bit odd, hence the ‘misshapen’ of the definition.
Leo Schofield AM, a part time resident of Tasmania, is the director of the production and has long wanted to be involved in a festival of Baroque music, because it to would herald a number of ‘unique’ events falling into place; in it being the first ever festival devoted entirely to Baroque, that the production itself is unique, such as this lesser known and performed opera of Haydn, it would be set in the unique setting of Tasmania, and the unique venue of the Theatre Royal.
In a time when theatres around the world are being pulled down the Theatre Royal remains a perfect example of Georgian architecture, and with its fine acoustics and intimacy, it is just the theatre to host an opera like this one. The scale is perfect (pardon the pun) and it is what the theatre was made for even though over time it has had to become a multitasking theatre dabbling in many forms of entertainment.
Says Leo,
“Back in 1988 I attended my first event at Hobart’s historic Theatre Royal. It was a performance of Don Giovanni, given by the Australian Opera as part of our Bicentennial Celebrations. I was struck by the charm, intimacy and superb acoustic of this gem of Georgian architecture and ever since I have dreamed of directing a small specialist music festival with this unique building at its heart. Over the past eight years I have lobbied, albeit intermittently and subtly, for such a festival, and now, for my co-producer Jarrod Carland and I, the dream is about to become a reality”
The fact that the production can’t be seen anywhere else means it has already gained a great percentage of opera lovers from the mainland which will be a great boost for our tourism industry particularly with the knock on effect that we have seen with places like MONA (also hosting two baroque events) whose aficionados have found other tempting things to do and see in Tasmania. Leo also hopes that locals will embrace the production. It will become a regular festival.
The opera’s story is set in an island in the Atlantic where a couple Costanza and Gernando spent their honeymoon. The two are forcibly parted when Gernando is captured by pirates. Costanza doesn’t know Gernando has been captured and continues to live on the island with her sister Silvia believing Gernando has left her. Years later a now free Gernando and his friend Enrico return to the island to look for Costanza. Enrico meets Silvia and learns her relationship to Costanza. It is not easy for Costanza and Gernando to get back on track due to many misunderstandings but eventually they are reunited and Enrico and Silvia also become a happy couple.
The Theatre Royal in Hobart will host Hobart Baroque, with the support of businessman and philanthropist Graeme Wood AM, Events Tasmania and the government of Tasmania.
If you would like to see a connection between this Baroque opera and art you can view Angela Kauffman’s painting titled ‘Deserte Costanza’ from the Gallery of Queensland and now on display to coincide with the opera, at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.
Hobart Baroque will take place between 12 April – 20 April 2013.
l’isola disabitata
By Joseph Haydn
(The uninhabited island)
Theatre Royal, Hobart
Friday 12 April 2013 7:30pm
Sunday 16 April 2013 3:00pm
Thursday 18 April 2013 7:30pm
Saturday 20 April 2013 7:30pm
As well as L’isola disabitata there will be additional baroque performances with recitals by David Hansen, Latitude 37 and one of female arias by Jane Edwards.
Mona will also host Monacello and Monaorganism.
Paula Xiberras
