Esther 2018Opera dei Lumi
Read more about the opera Esther
This is believed to have been the first complete performance of Esther in Scotland. It was performed in what is described in the programme as the Cannon's version of 1720. This was edited by Clifford Bartlett and John Butt, who made a recording with his Dundedin Consort a few years ago.
It has taken Opera del Lumi to provide a performance in Scotland a few days after the first night in Durham.
It was encouraging to see such a rarity being performed during the final week as part of the Festival Fringe. Many of the performers were already familiar from other ventures in Scotland.
A fine ensemble performance was conducted authoritatively by Peter Keenan. The audience, nearly two hundred strong, gave the performance an enthusiastic reception in the atmospheric surroundings of Greyfriars Kirk.
It is such an attractively tuneful oratorio that it is hard to account for its neglect.
Running time 1hr 50m
Performance Cast
- Esther Ahasuerus' Queen
- Ahasuerus King of Persia
- Haman Chief Minister
- Mordecai Esther's cousin and adoptive father
- Israelite child
- First Priest of the Israelites
- Second Priest Of the Israelites
- Habdonah
- First Israelite
- Second Israelite
- Officer