A remarkably beautiful and witty adaptation of the opera. The opening and final sequences, starting and finishing with a distant view of the earth from outer space to Tippett's wonderful music, are particularly memorable. But the casting and script are also excellent with the 'elders' appearing as thinly disguised Sydney and Beatrice Webb and the class distinctions between the two couples sensitively portrayed. Janet Suzman has a non-singing role as Madame Sosostris in an exotic scene in the middle act that is also memorable. This is a difficult opera to make sense of, and maybe one shouldn't try too hard, but Moshinsky gives so many clever allusions and hints that it is easy to suspend disbelief and to wallow in the glorious sounds and images. I only possess a damaged and poor quality video of the Thames TV broadcast in 1984 and would give a lot to own a decent copy!

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Michael Tippett's opera following two couples' paths to marriage. One couple is royal and the other a pair of commoners; there is magic and tragedy in the air.

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