After almost 22 years, and a dozen or so productions worldwide, Powder Her Face, Adès’s camp and risqué treatment of the scandal surrounding Margaret, Duchess of Argyll, is already established as part of the repertoire. In January, the chamber opera to a libretto by Philip Hensher received a new production mounted jointly by Northern Ireland Opera and Dublin’s Opera Theatre Company. Antony McDonald directed, whilst players from the Ulster Orchestra and a cast led by soprano Mary Plazas were conducted by Nicholas Chalmers.
Meanwhile, Sir Simon Rattle has commissioned an extension to Adès’s Dances from Powder Her Face as one of a string of new works to mark the end of his 16-year tenure with the orchestra. Commissioned by the Berliner Philharmoniker, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Carnegie Hall, the 17-minute Suite from Powder Her Face will be premiered in May 2017.
‘Adès’s opera has become a modern classic.’
The Times (Richard Morrison), 29 January 2017
‘Adès’s snazzy score sounded as fresh as ever.’
The Sunday Times (Hugh Canning), 12 February 2017