Trinity Laban's Head of Vocal Department, Linda Hirst, will take
centre stage in a new Elfyn Jones opera, "The Trial of Jean Rhys"
as part of the Riverside Theatre's Tete-A-Tete festival in
August.
When Jean Rhys lost a husband she didn't always notice straight
away. Married three times, she was all but consumed by drink and
self-destruction as her masterpiece Wide Sargasso Sea slowly took
shape. "The Trial of Jean Rhys" portrays her inelegant struggle and
looks into the darkness at the heart of one of the twentieth
century's most extraordinary writers.
A lifelong fan of Rhys' work, Linda said she was delighted to
play the role of this renowned author as her personal life was
completely overshadowed by the creative vortex she was in: "My
first ever BBC recital, 'Antoinette Alone', which was written for
me by Martin Dalby, was inspired by the Wide Sargasso Sea; and
Elfyn's music really suits my mezzo soprano voice."
Words come courtesy of Eleanor Knight, and the other performers
are Sarah Denbee, Tom McKenna, Julia Weatherley, James Williams and
Stephan Ulberini.
"The Trial of Jean Rhys" runs from 9-10 August.
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