Written at the age of 24 by the British composer Thomas Adès, Powder Her Face, a chamber opera for four soloists, is a work whose style is clearly reveals the sophistication of his musical writing, his rhythmic complexity – notably founded on perpetual changes of atmosphere – and an expressivity that disavow nothing of the lyrical tradition. The topic, very contemporary, draws on facts that provoked a scandal at the time, the fall of the libertine and notorious socialite beauty the Duchess of Argyll, remembered in history as the Dirty Duchess. The disgrace of this aristocrat with humble origins, adulated by the public before being dragged in the mud, reminds us of another fallen heroin, Berg’s Lulu. From this tragedy, Adès and Hensher draw a social satire that is acidic bordering on burlesque, at once theatrical and derisive. And yet, emotion is not absent thanks to a very free musical language, exposed to multiple influences – cabaret, tango, Berg, Britten, Shostakovich or Stravinsky – which Adès uses as indicators of various emotional atmospheres.
Presented in Brussels for the first time in the full version, the work will be conducted by Alejo Pérez. New guest conductor, he will be placed at the head of La Monnaie Symphony Orchestra. At his sides we will meet again Mariusz Treliński, director ofManon Lescaut in 2013 and director of the Warsaw National Opera. The Polish director will be surrounded by the team that accompanied the production Manon Lescaut: Krystian Lada for the dramaturgy, Boris Kudlicka for the stage setting, andFelice Ross for lighting. The costumes are designed by Marek Adamski and the video filmed by Bartek Macias. On the occasion, la Monnaie will transport itself into the Halles de Schaerbeek.
First born in Warsaw, this new production will be presented by La Monnaie with the same cast, the English mezzo-sopranoAlisson Cook, the Australian baritone Peter Coleman-Wright, the Swedish soprano Kerstin Avemo and the young American tenor of Italian origin Leonardo Capalbo. Alisson Cook (Duchess) was acclaimed in New York and Quebec for her interpretation of the duchess; she will make her debuts at La Monnaie. The great Australian baritone Peter Coleman-Wright makes also his debuts at La Monnaie in the role of director of the hotel (Hotel manager) The return of Kerstin Avemo on the stage of La Monnaie in the multiple female roles of Maid, Confidante, Waitress, Mistress, Rubbernecker & Society journalist is an occasion to meet again this excellent singer, who was the tender and disenchanted Despina in Cosi fan tuttedirected by Michael Haneke in 2013. Leonardo Capalbo will make his debuts at La Monnaie in the multiple roles ofElectrician, Lounge Lizard, Waiter, Rubbernecker, and Delivery boy.
