Dis moi que je suis belle

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Somewhere between grieving and daring to dream, Freeze Frame Opera gives a glimpse of the joys coronavirus has eclipsed with Truck-o-rama, The European Tour. Its not the year for a full staged opera but we wanted to make a show that felt good and took you to places you cant go to now, director Rachel McDonald explained. Four artists each sang highlights from a distinct European tradition, and shared a part of their own journey at times poignant or humorous, always entertaining. But first, a medley overture introduced Trio Tiramisu: pianist Tommaso Pollio, accordionist Cathie Travers and cellist Sophie Curtis; tireless accompanists all night. Cello and piano channelled familiar themes of Vivaldi, then rich, dark tones of Bach in solo cello, before rocking out to Saint-Saens. Centre-stage in a freezing Claremont pavilion was a flat-bed farm truck which had served as a wayside stage during lockdown and now transported each artist to their destination, back projection adding dimension to distant scenes a deft design by Robbie Harrold, Leaf Watson and Megan Parker. Soprano Naomi Johns chose French repertoire, launching with Voyage a Paris (Poulenc) brightly evoking the simple pleasure of travel, while Linvitation au voyage (Duparc) expressed yearning with abundant calm and sensual delight, duetting nicely with cello. Exstase (Duparc) became a torch song in Jerry Reinhardts understated lighting, yet always delicate. Smoking who would dare now? summoned the ennui of Hotel (Poulenc), with perhaps a hint of quarantine detention. Les chemins de lamour (Poulenc) became a jaunty waltz with accordion highlights, as Johns redonned gloves and coat to signify departure, her pared-back delivery rising to a passionate climax for Thais (Massenet) and Dis moi que je suis belle!Jun Zhang next shared a Chineapolitan take on O sole mio (Di Capua), folkloric accordion in fine counterpoint to poignant tenor, the surtitles