Olivier Messiaen’s Harawi
Cal Performances
Friday September 27, 2024 8pm
Zellerbach Hall UC Berkeley
Simply Beautiful!
The opera Harawi has many unusual aspects; many were discussed in a varied and complex discussion by scholars before the performance. Yet, no matter the complexity of language choices (Messiaen chose Andrean Harawi language traditions to use in his text), the music, the performers, the choreography and the dramatic staging succeeded beyond all intellectualization. The performers, singer, pianist, and dancers are superb.
Julia Bullock, soprano, is Cal Performances 2024/25 ‘artist in residence’. She will return Zellerbach Hall January 19, 2025 to perform with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Bullock is an amazing performer. Not only is her voice a superb instrument, but she is a resourceful actress, interacting with the two dancers on stage in emotional moving song and drama, but she was also physically active in her roll, at one instance singing from the floor … on her back!
The dancers, Bobbi Jane Smith and Or Schraiber complemented the dramatic activity with carefully chosen appropriate choreography. Smith interacted with Bullock, embracing and comforting her during some emotionally intense moments. Schraiber provided quieter support; both were dramatically effective complements to the singer. The choreographic choices were simple and effective throughout.
Conor Hanick, pianist, held center stage on the grand piano playing Messiaen’s score with great skill and expressiveness. His focus on the score and the sound centered him so that we the audience could concentrate on the dramatic action of Bullock, Smith and Schairber.
“Harawi” was a challenge to audience’s concentration and skill; listening, watching and reading the text (in French and English) shown on the screen above the performers. The translations were sometimes odd: but then the words were often in Harawi.
This performance is a production of AMOC, American Modern Opera Company which was established in 2017 with the mission of “building an sharing a body of collaborative work”. In 2022-23 AMOC reached audiences through 34 performances across 20 US venues and digital platforms.
This event, the Cal Performance first of the season was superb … and a challenge to its audience. It promises to be an exciting season at Zellerbach Hall and on the UC campus.