Anna Burnside reviews the ‘lush Scottish Opera revival of Opera Wales’ 2022 triumph’.
Elina Makropulos, also known as Emilia Marty, age 339, is weary of this mortal coil. Changing identity every few years - although always keeping the same initials - she is bored of her many lovers and relentless life cycle.
In this lush Scottish Opera revival of Opera Wales’ 2022 triumph, we follow Emilia through three incarnations, demarcated by radically changing wigs and wardrobe.
Each different set includes a prominent clock just in case we missed the point. In the first act, which takes place in a wonderfully dusty lawyers’ office, the giant timepiece even works.
Orla Boylan was born to be this jaded diva, tossing bouquets on the mound of red roses swept up from the stage where she performs, manipulating men who have admired her through the ages.
Conductor Martyn Brabbins keeps it crunchy as the orchestra makes the most of Janacek’s sometimes abrasive score.
David Pountney’s English translation loses the gnarly vowels of the original Czech but keeps it salty with language not often seen on the Theatre Royals’ supertitle screens.
When the heroine dies at the end of an opera it’s usually the height of tragedy. Here, when Emillia finally manages to destroy the recipe that’s been keeping her alive, she gets her happy ending.
Turns out that eternal youth is not all it’s cracked up to be.
Scottish Opera’s production of The Makropulos Affair is at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow until February 22, 2025. It then performs at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh on February 27 and March 1. For further details, go to the company’s website.
Photo by Mihaela Bodlovic.
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