Four Saints in Three Acts

Four Saints in Three Acts is an opera like no other. Written by the American composer Virgil Thomson to a libretto by Gertrude Stein, the words are generally nonsense, with repetitive phrases and no discernible plot. The Stream of Consciousness school was popular in this era.

However, this did not matter.

I was pleased to attend the pre-show talk by Graham Koehne, who studied with Virgil Thomson, which explained everything. It wasn’t that much different to watching an Italian opera one was unfamiliar with. We were given 3D glasses to wear for the projections on the screen behind the singers, and they enhanced the action. The performers reacted to the animations which made it all appear more real.

This was a performance by the Victorian Opera Youth Chorus Ensemble and they did very well. It must have been very difficult to learn, with the words not making sense, yet no one faltered and the harmony singing was impressive from the young cast.

The two narrators at the side had the score in front of them, but they had a lot to sing. Bass Jerzy Kozlowski was particularly impressive in this role.

The music was melodic and the orchestra, under Phoebe Briggs, excellent.

This was a strange, but enjoyable night at the opera.

Graham Ford

Photographer: Charlie Kinross.