Smyth’s Der Wald and Respighi’s Lucrezia review – Wagner’s spirit presides over double bill

The Silk Street theatre presented a double bill featuring two operatic rarities: Ethel Smyth's Der Wald and Ottorino Respighi's Lucrezia. This was the UK premiere for Respighi's 1937 work which, along with Smyth's 1902 opera, was likely new to most of the audience. Both operas show a significant musical influence from Wagner, evident in their dramatic structures and thematic content. Der Wald, described as dark and Romantic, features innocent lovers and a dramatic soprano causing turmoil. The opera's themes are encapsulated by the phrase "Tod und Liebe," or death and love. Director Stephen Barlow's production of Der Wald set the action in 1950s North America, with "gloomy" lighting. The woodland characters were dressed in denim and plaid attire. A notable visual element was the arrival of the character Iolanthe, a pseudo-Valkyrie, on a motorbike. The audience's anticipation was heightened by the orchestra playing a snippet of Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries before the performance began. This pairing offered a unique operatic experience for London audiences.