The result is closer to a classical myth in which the central message is that theres no point arguing with the gods. Judith Weir, Miss Fortune, Royal Opera, 12 March 2012 - Blogger ears ago, I read an Italian folk tale about a princess who, when her parents lose their money, is forced to live in poverty and make a living: weaving cloth, minding a wine store, washing clothes. Sad because Weir's folk inspired fables have won many friends, sad because she is a composerly composer whose luminous orchestral backdrops and singable vocal lines display an honest talent that never hides behind overworked technique. Judith Weir was born into a Scottish family in 1954, but grew up near London. I loved the witty set (designer. [13] Gerhard R. Koch, writing in the Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper on 25 July, had these observations: Miss Fortune moved to London in March 2012, garnering at least two negative reviews. On 30 June 2014, The Guardian stated that her appointment as Master of the Queen's Music,[5] succeeding Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (whose term of office expired in March 2014), would be announced;[6] this was officially confirmed on 21 July. Jack Garner-Greene Leif Tse, Repetiteurs If nothing has changed musically, this small staging worked well, at least in dramatic terms with terrific visuals and spot on acting. JUDITH WEIR AT 70 OPERAS. In the title role, Emma Bell does an admirable job of wrapping her voice around it all, without the audience ever getting a melody or a mood to remember. Judith Weir - Infinite Women Her opera Miss Fortune opened at the Royal Opera House in March. Winter Song. The most recent opera is Miss Fortune, premiered at . Violetta Suvini* Miss Fortune | The Theatre Reviewer The subject of this piece was inspired by the Barbican building itself she describes it as 'an imaginary excavation of the Barbican Centre, burrowing through 2,500 years of historical rubble'. Where Weirs orchestral writing is full and rich, the vocal parts are for the most part agile and harsh. She has composed Concertos for Piano (William Howard) and Oboe (Celia Craig). The most recent opera is Miss Fortune, premiered at Bregenz in . The Vanishing Bridegroom and Miss Fortune. A new production of an earlier opera is always welcome news, to its composer at least, and it doesn't feel right to term these "revivals" - implying that resuscitation or even raising from the dead has been necessary. Julia Sanchez Merino Tiago Costa The darker side of the "alienating effects of modern urban life" (as designer Anna Reid's programme note summarises both operas) are explored in Judith Weir's Miss Fortune (2011) based on a Sicilian folk story and dramatising a serious reversal of fortune and circumstances as its punning title implies, through the personified figure of fate. The score was published by Novello in 1982, and lasts under ten minutes, making it one of the shortest operas, and is possibly unique in having . Ema Cunha Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. King Harald's Saga - Wikipedia EC2Y 8DT. Photo:Judith Weir. During this time she began to write a series of operas (including King Haralds Saga, The Black Spider, A Night at the Chinese Opera, The Vanishing Bridegroom and Blond Eckbert) which have subsequently received many performances in the UK, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and the USA. Judith Weir. Miss Fortune, Royal Opera House - The Independent Weir was appointed a CBE in 1995 Composer Judith Weir CBE is to become the first female Master of the Queen's Music. One of these days someone might actually commission one of the many young composers at the sharp end of musical theatre creative song writers with their finger on the pulse of contemporary living. Eva Gaidoni The most recent opera is Miss Fortune, premiered at Bregenz in 2011, and then staged at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in 2012. Subscribe to our newsletters to hear about upcoming events. Miss Fortune in name and deed. Only Anne-Marie Owens's Donna, who runs a launderette, and Hassan the kebab-van owner, beautifully sung by Noah Stewart (the closest we get to beefcake), show signs of humanity. Judith Weir's Miss Fortune did not have a favourable reception when it premiered at Covent Garden in 2012, considered by some ill-suited to the Royal Opera House and lacking the musical engagement of her previously melodically rich operas and a decent libretto. What you think of Miss Fortunes music will depend very much on personal tastes: I found it music to admire rather than to love. Charlotte Antingham This was followed by a further three full-length operas The Vanishing Bridegroom (1990), Blond Eckbert (1994), the latter commissioned by the English National Opera[14] and Miss Fortune (Achterbahn) (2011). Judith Weir - Miss Fortune [Achterbahn] (2011) - YouTube 0:00 / 1:23:43 Judith Weir - Miss Fortune [Achterbahn] (2011) 2,550 views Oct 17, 2015 Digital broadcast from BBC Radio 3 .more. Ben Upthegrove Jonathan Eyers (28 Feb & 4 Mar), Jack Holton (2 & 7 Mar), Lord Fortune Jacob Harrison Find Judith Weir stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. My reworking begins with a financial crash and ends with an unlikely lottery win - yet I didn't set out to write a piece about. Definitions of Judith_Weir, synonyms, antonyms, derivatives of Judith_Weir, analogical dictionary of Judith_Weir (English) . Guildhall School of Music & Drama Location . A new production of an earlier opera is always welcome news, to its composer at least, and it doesn't feel right to term these "revivals" - implying that resuscitation or even raising from the dead has been necessary. And the greatest irony of all - Miss Fortune wins the lottery. Its story talks about the difference betweeen being rich and poor, and I was criticised at the time for imagining that this would be a permissable subject for an opera. And did the previous orchestra really play that F-natural all last summer and we never noticed? Much of her music has been recorded, and is available on the NMC, Delphian and Signum labels. The most recent opera is Miss Fortune, premiered at Bregenz in 2011, and then staged at the Royal . Andr Soares Judith Weir was appointed Master of The Queen's Music, in succession to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, in July 2014; and in January 2015 became Associate Composer . The upper floor of The Telephones split staging neatly morphed into Miss Fortunes roof top balcony where Harrison and Holyland made their mark as the nouveau riche parents of Tina. BBC Radio 3. On 21 July 2011, her first opera for 17 years, Miss Fortune (Achterbahn), premiered at the Bregenz Festival in Austria. Kosta Popovic Judith Weir CBE (born 1954) is a British composer and the first female Master of the Queen's Music. Guildhall Schools Opera department presents a double bill of operatic works exploring romantic love, fate and fortune. Tina (Miss Fortune) - Emma Bell. Judith Weir was born into a Scottish family in 1954, but grew up near London. . Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium and the USA. Tina, their daughter Erin Gwyn Rossington (28 Feb & 4 Mar), Cleo Lee McGowan (2 & 7 Mar) More information, Don't have an online account? Sad because Weir's folk inspired fables have won many friends, sad because she is a composerly. Judith Weir is a Honorary Patron for Sound and Music. Composed 2000. Lisette Oropesa leads strong vocal performances in Handel's madcap tale of love and sorcery. Published by Chester Music (HL.14035701). Judith Weir | The Tree of Peace - YouTube Unlike in the first act, the music lets up on the never-ending tension (the strident voiceover of Fate is absent for Simon's aria), and several of the subsequent scenes are more enjoyable for it. To those who ask what material like this is doing in an opera house, I can only reply that this story allowed me to write both opera and folk music at the same time, to invent work songs for modern jobs like dry cleaning, and to find present-day uses for beautiful operatic forms, such as the aubade, or dawn song which Hassan sings while tending his kebab van. In July 2014 Judith Weir was appointed to the 395-year old royal post of Master of the Queen's Music, in succession to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. . I decided to use the tale as a basis for a new opera. Theres usually plenty of hype surrounding a newly written opera performed at Covent Garden, but the carefully placed stories about Judith Weirs Miss Fortune are on the improbable end of the scale, featuring a flying kebab shop and a team of breakdancers. Weir was born in Cambridge, England, to Scottish parents. Natalie Alfille-Cook She studied with . For more access information, please visit ourAccessibilitysection. Judith Weir is a composer who, despite a huge body of work that ranges from grand operas to piano concertos to songs for children, has never sought the limelight. Popularly known as the Musician of United Kingdom. Watch online from 25 March. Judith Weir is brilliant at writing atmospheric, descriptive music, but such music needs something to hang on to, like flesh needs a skeleton (another image of Fate).This libretto is so weak, it's embarrassing. Public transport Menotti's The Telephone & Judith Weir's Miss Fortune - Guildhall School Miss Fortune is a reinvention of a Sicilian folk tale in which the comfortable life of Tina (Erin Gwyn Rossington), the wealthy daughter of Lord and Lady Fortune (Jacob Harrison and Amy Holyland), nosedives after a financial catastrophe. But when the once wealthy Tina (a self-consciously red-headed but vocally resolute Emma Bell) turns on Fate (a wasted Andrew Watts) and halfway through this short and pointless evening enquires: Was it you who turned my life upside down? we know weve come precisely nowhere very fast.