The Nightingale 2014

By Igor Stravinsky
based on Hans Christian Anderssen
Directed by Mark Down
Bregenz Festival in 2014

Cubist Puppets meet a bird with a beautiful voice in Blind Summit's daringly Dada-ist staging of Stravinsky's marvellous opera. Composed between 1912 and 1916 this opera literally straddles the birth of modernism. With seven singers, a 25 chorus, 11 puppeteers and a cast of life-sized puppets, Blind Summit create a visual wonderland for Hans Christian Anderssen's classic tale. 

"stunning puppetry... a great Cubist theatrical illusion"
- Schwaebische - Original Review (in German)

"the ingenious and subtle direction of Mark Down was a success across the board, making this show a delight. The chorus stood stage left while the soloists were seated stage right. Centre stage were the puppeteers who, using puppets and a wide variety of accessories, tell the story in a simple and understated way whilst very touching and naive, and not without a sense of humour, doing perfect justice to the tale that inspired the music of Stravinsky. Only the singer playing Rossignol was among the puppeteers: Kathryn Lewek offered a magnificent performance, both theatrically and vocally, with perfectly controlled voice and nuanced singing"

 Concerto Net - Original Review (in French)