Opera has always been a classic art style merged in the beauties of modern. With a more contemporary touch and flawless performances, the play ‘The Life and Death of Alexander Litvinenko’ has created much buzz among the audience. Last week, this performance has stirred everyone’s emotions with a beautiful representation filled with creativity and pieces of information. If you think opera writers must have been so much deeply devoted and did not get to do anything else, then think again. Creating a fine balance between business and art, former banker Anthony Bolton invests in a well-staged opera that intrigues everyone. As a prolific investment manager, he has made almost ‘the Harry Potter of investment’ to make this opera successful. It is based on the murder of Alexander Litvinenko and his wife Marina Litvinenko’s account. Alexander was the former KGB operative who was murdered by poisoning with radioactive polonium in London in 2006, by Russian agents. The libretto in the act is written by his widow based on the book Death of a Dissident.
The act was beautifully done and with its fact-based episodes, the opera was a journey through history, conspiracy, and music. Audiences’ hearts were startled when the ‘Chenchen rebels’ took over the stage and pointed their Automatic rifles. It was an act of siege that happened in 2002 in Moscow theatre. Considering its, set, performance, concept, and representation; the piece of art is definitely intriguing documentation. However, it does lack some aspects of opera acts which makes it flawed. But it seems very thoughtful from the perspective of documentary or play. Russians have found it much interesting and the media is talking about the part where health workers seemed chanting ‘Polonium’ and KGB Boss. It is quite a ripe concept for drama as it involves conspiracy theories. Kit Hesketh- Harvey’s libretto follows the account of Marina and an anti-Putin stance is evident there. It starts with Litvinenko (played by Adrian Dwyer) on the hospital bed with a resemblance to death bed comes with a full circle after three years. It would have been more effective with just a ‘Thunderous Death Music’, instead of Marina (sung by Rebecca Bottone) mourning for a long while. It was emotionally rich and well-intended but too mundane to get engrossed in it.
Bolton is a talented and highly-trained music artist who worked as a banker most of his life. But his creativity is never overlapped with his banking ideas. He made sure all his investments go correctly for this opera to give a grand touch. Illustrative Russian music, the montage of snippets, and unwavering vocal style. A sonic delight is present in the choruses has brightened the ambiance. Stephen Medcalf staged the whole thing with a good cast and indulgent video. The content as an opera might not be at the top but it is definitely some great achievement. Even professional composers fail to come up with such great representations. Considering its idea, creativity, performance, and setting; it is one of the greatest opera works in the modern era.
