Following its world premiere at the 2016 Salzburg Festival, and critically acclaimed performances at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and New York’s Metropolitan Opera, The Exterminating Angel travelled to The Royal Danish Opera in the original Tom Cairns production. Robert Houssart conducted a brand new cast with great authority and understanding.
Based on Luis Buñuel’s surrealist classic, this is a true ensemble opera, and the skill with which Adès delineates the many intricacies and undercurrents present over its densely-packed span is breathtaking. A masterfully deployed orchestra is coloured by guitar, piano and ondes martenot, the latter soaring above proceedings as an eerie manifestation of the force that ensnares the characters.
REVIEWS
‘Adès’s most ambitious work yet and the Royal Opera’s most exciting venture for a long time… a genius thriller… It’s incredibly rich in music thrills.’
Berlingske (Søren Schauser), 25 March 2018
‘The grip of the music is unconventional… Like the dinner guests on stage, one is kept captivated by a mysterious power.’
Politiken (Thomas Michelsen), 25 March 2018
‘It’s masterfully done… Adès calculates the music’s effect with supreme power and authority.’
Frederiksborg Amts Avis (Knud Cornelius), 26 March 2018
‘It’s entertaining. It’s beautiful. An inspired construction… the opera has taken audiences and reviewers by storm since its 2016 premiere.’
Information (Camilla Marie Dahlgreen), 27 March 2018
‘An extraordinary piece of work… The music draws on an immensely broad range of styles, and much of the opera is characterised by irony.’
Peripeti (Lars Ole Bonde), 27 March 2018
‘The opera offers poignant and musically stunning moments, as well as a decent dose of humour. Adès’s music is catchy and full of beautiful details.’
Operapoint blog, 24 March 2018