The story, of course, is dark and terrifying - 5 women who were working as prostitutes were murdered grotesquely by a killer who was never identified by police and became known as 'Jack the Ripper'. This production effectively reflects the dark story in it's entire design; the set is completely black, the lighting is exceedingly dim and everything is boxed in to a concentrated area by a looming building. This was excellent in transporting me to 1888, the only problem being that I couldn't really see.
I felt that the opera took a little bit of time to get into full swing. The opening promised excitement which then seemed to fade until news came of the first murder, but even then, the sense of excitement didn't last long. In the first act there were no particularly memorable tunes and plot development was minimal. However thankfully, the second act was much better - gripping and exciting as the stories began to unfold and there was actually some action. The cast was truly terrific, with a 5-strong group of power women at its core. Susan Bullock and Lesley Garrett were a strong force, creating the standout moments of tonight's performance.
The music was cleverly crafted with motifs running through the second act and brilliant orchestration throughout. What I felt was so exciting about the production is that everything that was happening seemed so real. I felt completely absorbed into the world of the opera and everything I was watching, the fear and anger of the women, all seemed so tangible.
The music was cleverly crafted with motifs running through the second act and brilliant orchestration throughout. What I felt was so exciting about the production is that everything that was happening seemed so real. I felt completely absorbed into the world of the opera and everything I was watching, the fear and anger of the women, all seemed so tangible.
This is a riveting story, told with a real sense of drama in this opera by Iain Bell. Well worth a watch, if not just to see some of the biggest female opera talents all on one stage!
There are lots of ways to save when going to the opera, and there is a really handy summary of all the different methods of saving here: https://www.eno.org/your-visit/ways-to-save-offers/ . There is also the brilliant Opera Undressed scheme where you can get £20 tickets to see one of a selection of performances, and they include amazing seats, a free drink, and a pre-show performance talk. More information can be found here: https://www.eno.org/your-visit/ways-to-save-offers/opera-undressed/. Under 18's go free on Saturdays! - check the ENO website for more details.