Les Enfants Terribles, Miklos Banffy Theatre, Eiffel Studio, Budapest Dec 4th 2021

https://youtu.be/yN20f5ylm8I

I was excited by this prospect; I enjoy Glass’s works for the theatre (those that I have seen) and the idea of a dramatic performance that combined ballet and opera (and, it turned out, speech too) was enticingly original. I’m not sure I was aware the ballet/opera combination had ever been tried - perhaps Rameau opera-ballets?

Not so. This whole evening was infinitely tedious and the only reason I did not leave before the end was that there was no interval. I was utterly involved in the drama which was solipsistic to the Nth degree and to try to discern a plot was impossible - I had no idea of the central reason for involving dancers - it seemed to distance me from whatever was being unfolded and this was further emphasised by the narrator (over-miked or shouting somewhat? not sure…)

Great kudos to the company for actually putting it on - they really are imaginative and boundary=breaking at the Eiffel - so can be forgiven the occasional flop. It’s a point that I have made before - if a work is very rarely performed then there is usually a good reason for it - it’s not very good!

The Fairy Queen. Miklos Banffy Theatre, Eiffel Studio, Budapest. March 18th 2022

Figaro 3 Miklos Banffy Theatre, Eiffel Studio Budapest June 26th 2021