This is Video of the Week from Wales Arts Review. We’ll be showcasing some of the best art in Wales with a new video shared every week. From music to drama and everything in between, videos will not be limited by medium. Today’s video is an interview with Jude Christian – the director of VIOLET – a new opera by Tom Could.
Welcome back to the video of the week! Today, we’re taking a look at an interview with Jude Christian, director of VIOLET, a brand new opera commissioned by Music Theatre Wales and Britten Pears in association with Theater Ulm. Composed by Tom Could, and with a libretto by Alice Birch (co-writer of Normal People and writer of Conversations with Friends), it comes with a time-bending twist and has already been dubbed “the best new British Opera in years”.
Described as an opera “for now, about now” the story follows Violet. Struggling with depression, she lives in a large house with her husband Felix and their maid Laura. Theirs is a world ruled by routine and structure – “Lights go on at six, bread rises in the ovens at seven and the front doors are opened at eight” – until the nature of time begins to change, or more aptly, to disappear.
Michael McCarthy, Director of Music Theatre Wales, said this of the production:
“I am thrilled to welcome you to this world premiere touring performance of VIOLET. The journey to reach this point has not been straightforward, and I want to offer my sincere thanks to the creative team who have shown such resilience, determination and vision to bring this piece to life, and of course to Tom Coult and Alice Birch for their incredible forbearance as their creation was held in suspense for two long years, as well as for their amazing piece!”
“[…]Making work of this quality and ensuring it reaches audiences in Wales and England who are excited at the prospect of encountering new opera is the thing that makes us tick. Our challenge is to ensure new opera remains part of our cultural landscape, and the best way to do this is to make work that is of now. I believe VIOLET fulfils this aim and I hope you will agree with me that it has been well worth waiting for.”
You can watch the interview with VIOLET director Jude Christian below.
Find out more about VIOLET here.
