Interact & Reviews / Reviews

Simone
What a stunning and extraordinary experience! It was magnificent to have the chance to see this work of Messiaen as a pinnacle almost at the end of the Proms season, in which we had the chance and pleasure to listen and to discover so much of his music. It was truly amazing to see all his ideas come together in this opera. In my opinion, he could not have chosen a subject more appropriate and he could not have selected the scenes for the opera better. I was gripped by the music, but also the phenomenal acting of the singers from the very first moment. I was standing very close to the stage and for me it had a great intimacy. In my opinion the little staging we got was brilliant and most appropriate for the work and for St Francis; so you could concentrate even more on the music, the sounds, the voices and the acting.

In my opinion all of the singers were marvellous, so it is almost impossible to single anyone out. Nevertheless, I liked especially Hubert Delamboye as Leper and Henk Neven as Brother Leo. Above and beyond praise for me were Rod Gifry and Heidi Grant Murphy. Rod Gifry as St Francis seemed to be so real that you almost suffered with him, and for me Heidi Grant Murphy impersonated an angel in every possible way. I did not miss wings when I watched her standing at the organ in a place which was beaming of golden light surrounded by music which was probably as close to celestial music as I can imagine it. Praise of course also has to be given to the wonderful choir, the great orchestra and Ingo Metzmacher who had to carry out the difficult task of keeping everything together and making the performance as a whole as beautiful as it was. What a pity and a shame that the Royal Albert Hall was so empty! But I am more than grateful that I was able to see this performance which I will certainly never forget!

Apparently DNO (DE NEDERLANDSE OPERA) made a recording of Saint Francis of Assisi last June for a Dutch television broadcast later this year. They have not yet reached a final decision whether to make a DVD, because of the high costs of the rights. Maybe many people should contact them and let them know how much they would appreciate to have a DVD of this production.

Clive Murgatroyd and Robyn Pender
Whilst waiting for our bus after the concert we had the great pleasure of talking with some of the performers. One of the violinists enthused about the energy the orchestra sensed from the audience, which encouraged them to play even better. Several members of the chorus were almost in tears at the reception they had received, and others thanked us profusely and told us that it was the best experience they had ever had. All were unanimous in their praise for the stamina and concentration of the arena audience in particular. For most of the performers, this was their Proms debut, and we sincerely hope they will come back very soon.

Situated as this Prom was between concerts given by some of the world's best known orchestras, the playing of the Hague Philharmonic Orchestra and singing of the Netherlands Opera Chorus shone out. The soloists were first rate, with Heidi Grant Murphy as the Angel delivering what can only be described as a heavenly performance. All can be proud of a performance that we will always remember - for us St Francis was the highlight of the season. Thank you to everybody involved.

Michael McGuinness
Stunning sound, no picture. It was an unforgetable musical experience last night and one I shall always cherish. But why the minimalist design? Messiaen was known for his love of colour and light. His attention to visual details - sourcing Giotto and Fra Angelico frescoes to add authenticity to the characters was absent. We got black and white. Does the downplay of the religious imagery [the cross, the angel with wings etc] which is central to the life of Saint Francis, make this production more secular and therefore more modern? By placing the orchestra centre stage the magnificent performances of the central characters were, in visual terms, completely overwhelmed. In spite of the acoustic splendour, often they sadly looked like kitchen porters waiting for their shift to end.

A first class production like this deserves a designer with vision and the courage to make it appear authentic, just as Messiaen intended.

Martyn Lowe-Wheeler
For me, this was always going to be the highlight of this year's Proms. It was disappointing, and one felt embarrassed, that so few attended, and now one can only feel sorry that the crowds who packed the Albert Hall for the big names and more popular pieces missed such an extraordinary work and in a performance that was quite simply breathtaking.

The Netherlands Opera, the orchestra, the choir, all the soloists, their conductor, Ingo Metzmacher, were, from start to finish, breathtakingly intense, virtuosic, emotionally at one, giving a performance where not for one moment was there any sort of lapse in concentration. This was music making of the most extraordinary excellence. I have been to a huge number of Proms this year and have heard no singing or playing as good as this.

As has already been commented on, the coughers and programme rustlers were mercifully absent. In this performance, the audience were allowed quiet moments and moments of silence that were almost unbearable in their emotional intensity. Never before have I so fully felt what Messiaen's birdsong means. Rod Gifry was overwhelming as St Francis, and the scene between him and Hubert Delamboye, singing the part of the Leper, was but the first that brought the tears to my eyes. Heidi Grant Murphy singing the Angel was phenomenal. What breath control; what focused, still intensity and transcendence. The orchestra's percussionists were out of this world, but so were every other section. I really do not think I have ever known music making of such perfection. Why are this company, these performers, this conductor, not better known; why were they not able to sell out the Albert Hall?

Andy Cordy
As a once in a lifetime opportunity (of these 3 score years and ten, 50 will not come again!!!!), this was presented by a friend as a must see as well as a must hear. The days when I would sit in the arena for a long event after queueing are over, our seats were £36 each but I have never, never spent money so well. The extraordinary sound in the hall, proved to me how wrong one is to dismiss the 3 dimensional element in great music; of actually being there, as one could both see and hear Messiaen's avian creations flutter over the assembled army of musicians.

It is unusual for the Beeb to have opera performances available on-line, this however is. If you missed it you will not get another chance for full experience, but the recording is very good. In over 30 years as an avid Radio 3 listener who owes everything he knows about serious music to the wireless, I have never been so excited by a musical event. Thanks you to all who made it possible.

Joseph Duncan
On what was a dreary wet Sunday afternoon I attended yesterday's magnificent performance of Messiaen's formidable and challenging opera. Having seen the Paris Opera's production of this music a few years ago I was a little prepared for what was to come. Messiaen's highly intellectual and original concepts on music appears to me to be particularly prevalent in this work. The huge musical forces required for it to be brought off successfully were skillfully woven by the outstanding conductor Ingo Metzmacher. All the singers, including chorus, along with the superb orchestra were inspired by his leadership. The quality of singing was exceptional especially by singers little-known in this country. This was an inspiring performance and everyone should be congratulated. Let us hope a CD will appear some time in the future.

Gayle Williams
Thus far, this was the overwhelming highlight of the 2008 Proms. For the few who attended, this will be an event they will always cherish. I`m not an instinctive Messiaen fan and had to be almost bullied into attending ... Thank you, Roger Wright for programming this beautiful Opera.

The Big Critter
Extraordinary! Quite phenomenal! However, the RAH was virtually empty. Were there even a thousand people there? All nine Amsterdam performances of this production were sold out. A true and very painful reflection of the increasing cultural vacuity and ignorance in the UK.

Tom Hanna
This 6-hour marathon was a suprising bonus to the year's Proms. The orchestra were top-rate, and the conductor a true marathon man. The choir were well balanced and knowledgeable. No vocal scores were used durng the perfomance, but were tucked under the choristers' arms. The perfomance was energetic, moving and not a bit tedious. Time just flew, with a deserved ovation at the end. Thanks to the normal "coughers, sniffers and random clappers" for not attending. These persons were NOT missed. I was quite surprised at the attentiveness of the audience, where through the whole perfomance you could have "heard a pin drop." A VERY enjoyable day.