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Spark review – Glyndebourne Youth Opera light up a terrific new show of monsters and magic
Glyndebourne Youth Opera’s new full-length show, *Spark*, follows a grieving, anxious girl who escapes into a magical world above the rooftops. Lucy Armstrong’s opera uses fantasy to explore loss and family disconnection, while keeping a light touch for much of the evening.
The 64 performers, aged nine to 19, play the Spark Monsters in a production praised for its singing, movement and imaginative costumes. The score moves from delicate passages featuring harp, celesta and glockenspiel to large choruses, accompanied by the Glyndebourne Sinfonia. The second act briefly becomes too direct in its depiction of depression, but the production otherwise sustains its energy and ends positively.
In short
- *Spark* explores grief and anxiety through a rooftop fantasy.
- Glyndebourne’s 64 young performers bring the monsters to life.
- A strong production briefly falters with an overt depression allegory.
Explained simply
Glyndebourne is an opera house in Sussex, and its youth opera brings together young performers aged nine to 19. These productions give them the chance to sing and act in full-scale works with professional musicians.
Opera combines music, singing and drama, and can use fantasy to explore difficult experiences. In this story, a girl’s imagined world of monsters and magic provides a way into themes of grief and distance within families.
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