The Rape of Lucretia

In a first collaboration with Victorian Opera, the adventurous Sydney Chamber Opera delivers this famously problematic chamber opera from Benjamin Britten.  

The Rape of Lucretiais an ancient myth about a uniquely virtuous Roman wife who is raped by the envious Traquinius, son of the Etruscan tyrant.  Her subsequent shame and suicide galvanised Roman outrage in the formative days of its republic. 

But is that all?, sings the grieving solo female chorus.  Britten then oddly leaps in time to the Christian assertion that, yes, pain has a purpose and true faith provides redemption.

This confusion of Roman politics and clumsy Anglican messaging is apparently mocked in this production – and its eight singers on David Fleischer’s clean white amphitheatre set, recalling the judicial forum of a Senate – but I’m not so sure.  The opera’s other problem is the foul-mouthed misogyny and violence of Traquinius and his mates. 

Assuming that such raw ugliness today needs special framing, director Kip Williams has reversed genders so that the women mime and strut as men while the men behind sing their roles – and vice versa.  

Curiously it works sometimes, as a performative comment on power and gender, and is perhaps compatible with the expositional, even baroque, nature of Britten’s chamber opera. Mostly its an irritatingly unnecessary device which splices our focus and spoils dramatic impact.

Britten’s score though is astonishingly beautiful and expressive, just as Ronald Duncan’s libretto is delightfully rich in character and odd detail.  And conductor pianist Jack Symonds and his 12 musicians give it full force and nuance, as do the singers.

The men are particularly strong, namely Nathan Lay, Andrew Goodwin, Simon Lobelson and Jeremy Kleeman (also riveting miming Lucretia).  Anna Dowsley sings Lucretia movingly, teamed with Celeste Lazarenko, Jane Sheldon and Jessica O’Donoghue.

Even with the problematic problem-solving, this is a compelling, inventive musical accomplishment.

Martin Portus

Images: (top) L-R  Nathan Lay, Jessica O'Donoghue and Andrew Goodwin & (lower) Jane Sheldon and Simon Lobelson in The Rape of Lucretia. Photographer: Zan Wimberley