Max Cenic as Tamerlano, sitting on the Coronation throne of England and the Scottish Stone of Scone with the Elgin Marbles
Following the success of Semele, last year, John returned to Scottish Opera where his production of Handel's Tamerlano opened on 7th November 2006.
For his second main-house production, John collaborated with baroque specialist conductor, Christian Curnyn, Gideon Davey (set & costumes) and Giuseppe Di Iorio (lighting).
The cast is as follows: Tamerlano - Max Cencic, Bajazet - Tom Randle, Asteria - Gail Pearson, Andronicus - William Purefoy, Irene - Jennifer Johnston, Leone - Jonathan Best.
"Bajazet becomes Richard the Lionheart and Tamerlane his captor Saladin. The set appears to be the antiquities hall of the British Museum, suggesting the universality of the opera's themes. This idea is reinforced by the updating of the final act to the present day, when the museum is a looted shell and Tamerlane a gun-toting hoodie-wearing warlord."
The Guardian
"Well staged and acted with commitment."
The Daily Telegraph
"Wonderful production... judging by the audience reaction, Glasgow loved it."
Evening Times
William Purefoy as Andronicus
Jennifer Johnstone and Jonathan Best as Irene and Leone
Max Cencic as Tamerlano
An excerpt from John's programme note for the production:
A milder fate than tyranny?
In essence, the subject of Tamerlano is sovereignty - of self and of state - and the right of one to impose his will on another. Tamerlane has defeated Bajazet by the power of his own might but his arrogant captive rejects his conqueror's right to rule, believing his own royal blood gives him an irrefutable right to do so. Tamerlane aims to make Bajazet submit but he also uses his power to compel others against their wishes. When he does not get his own way, he resorts to violence and continually threatens to behead his prisoner. However, when Bajazet takes poison, he confronts and effectively defeats Tamerlane: his act of suicide becomes as much the ultimate self-determination - he can neither be made to live nor die - as it is sacrificial.
