Blaze of Glory! review: ‘emphatically Welsh’ opera is perfectly pitched
This show tells the story of Welsh miners trying to raise spirits after a mining disaster
Blaze of Glory!, Welsh National Opera’s terrifically entertaining new production, is not – strictly speaking – an opera, said Rian Evans in The Guardian. Set in a Welsh Valleys community in the 1950s, it tells the story of a small group of miners who re-form their male voice choir to raise local spirits following a mining disaster. For her libretto, Emma Jenkins drew on real-life histories, and composer David Hackbridge Johnson used Welsh hymns as his cornerstones, while incorporating everything from jazz, pop and doo-wop to Gilbert and Sullivan and 19th century French choral works. Bowling along with “a warm, often suitably blazing, energy”, the evening becomes a “remarkable” testament to community spirit, and the restorative power of music-making.
It’s also “properly laugh-out-loud funny”, said Rebecca Franks in The Times, with “comic characters and capers, slapstick moments, amusing wordplay and almost too much innuendo”. The first half, especially, is “bliss”, said Alexandra Coghlan in The Daily Telegraph. Soprano Rebecca Evans is “irresistible” as the choir’s accompanist Miss Price, and is well matched by Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts as foreman and choirmaster Dafydd, the object of her determined affections. From Madeleine Boyd’s “just-homemade-enough” designs to the “magpie” score and the “tooth-achingly wholesome jokes”, the whole show is “pitched just right”. The second half “wanders” a bit plot-wise, with “more climaxes than a tenor’s cadenza”. But, all told, this is a big success: an “irrepressibly buoyant, emphatically Welsh brand of music theatre”.
Director Caroline Clegg’s staging “unerringly hits the precise tone for scenes alternating comedy with heartache”, while swerving sentimentality, said George Hall in The Stage. The leads are excellent, but the “undoubted” stars of the show are the singers of the “justly famed” Welsh National Opera Chorus. Augmented by members of local male-voice choirs, the “emotional charge” they bring to traditional hymns and folk songs is “utterly thrilling”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, then touring until 20 May (wno.org.uk)
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour – an 'expansive' exhibition
The Week Recommends The 'sweeping' show features over 140 works from paintings to ceramics
By The Week UK Published
-
Kate Summerscale picks her favourite true crime books
The Week Recommends The writer shares works by Janet Malcolm, Helen Garner and Mark O'Connell
By The Week UK Published
-
The Forsyte Saga: 'faultless' production with a 'pitch-perfect' cast
The Week Recommends Theatrical adaptation of John Galsworthy's novels is a 'must-see' show
By The Week Published
-
6 exciting homes for athletes
Feature Featuring a rock-climbing wall in New York and a basketball-tennis court in Washington
By The Week Staff Published
-
Peter Ames Carlin's 6 favorite books on pop culture icons
Feature The author recommends works by James McBride, Jim Bouton, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Wild Robot: animated adventure is 'warm, funny and wise'
The Week Recommends 'Sharply written and richly detailed' adaptation of Peter Brown's best-selling book
By The Week UK Published
-
Francis Bacon: Human Presence – a 'stirring, splendid' exhibition
The Week Recommends 'Riveting' show at the National Portrait Gallery explores the artist's 'wild' portraits
By The Week UK Published
-
Robert McCrum shares his favourite books on sport
The Week Recommends Writer and editor picks works by Nick Hornby, David Goldblatt and others
By The Week UK Published