Composer: Rachel Sullivan
Libretto: Rachel Sullivan
Directors: Rachel Sullivan & Hannah Siddiqui
Conductor: Chloe Lu Ye
Rachel Sullivan’s Bertha a “shopera” (an opera staged in a shop, in this case in Glasgow’s expansive Buchanan Galleries) uses Bertha Rochester (née Mason) from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre as its inspiration.
Bertha redefines the story of Edward Rochester’s “mad” wife in the attic, shining a contemporary, more understanding light on Bertha. Who symptoms modern interpreters of the story have identified as Huntington’s Disease.
This innovative work was staged and rehearsed in a remarkable four days. Running at an economical one hour, it provides an original new work for seasoned opera-goers and an attractive, highly digestible introduction for opera neophytes.
A cast of four young singers and an ensemble of eleven players, under the sure-handed baton of Chloe Lu Ye, deliver Rachel Sullivan’s lively, and at times soaring and cinematic score with aplomb. The young performers provide life and colour to this minimally but cleverly staged production. In particular, Jolanta Kudra is a spectacular find as Bertha. Crystal clear of voice, her acting abilities breathe believable life into the tortured titular character as does Caroline Boerner who is finely voiced as servant Alice.
Only good can come from bringing opera to the masses, and with works as fine as this, we can only wait expectantly to find out what’s next for Rachel Sullivan.
Image: Contributed
