L'amour de loin

Kaija Saariaho's L'Amour De Loin(Love From Afar) to me is among the best contemporary operas, it has an imaginative and often emotionally powerful story, also very reflective, and a score that's clever(with subtle shades of Medieval and Troubadour melody) and hauntingly beautiful. This production from Finnish National Opera is as good a production of this opera could possibly get, it has you under its spell immediately and keeps you entranced. The production values are simple yet beautiful with the boat and apotheosis in the reflecting pool making for strikingly imaginative touches. Peter Sellars is one opera director who fascinates people and infuriates others, here in L'Amour De Loin is some of his most accessible and interesting ever directing with no touches that would offend. The picture and sound quality on the DVD are impeccable on all counts, you can fully enjoy the images thanks to the unobtrusive and expansive video directing and the music has full impact thanks to the resonant sound. The orchestra play wonderfully throughout, powerful, stylish, nuanced and with warm textures and sonorous timbres. The off-stage chorus are beautifully blended and sing with involvement and Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts with an obvious love for the score as well as an understanding for it. The three principal performances are spot-on, with the commanding and handsome-voiced Gerald Finley being particularly good. Dawn Upshaw is also alluring and with a voice that is warm, remarkably flexible and like an angel. Monica Group is compellingly real as the Pilgrim, making the role more interesting than it actually is, and is clearly an intelligent singer. The final scene is harrowing and intensely moving, very like a Liebestod. To conclude an utterly transfixing production, you'll be hard pressed to find a better production of a contemporary opera. 10/10 Bethany Cox