“The Juniper Tree” and why I must produce the opera

 Guest Blog Post by Helen Astrid

When I was a little girl, I had a fascination with gardens: what grew in them, what lived in them, who visited it and what lurked beneath the rocks. Our garden in Kew, Surrey, appeared gigantic, with a bountiful peach tree at the end of the path by our dilapidated greenhouse with broken windows. An old slow-worm slept under a large stone which my sister and I often lifted up and we would scream with delight if we found it.

The memories are vivid, colourful and full of curiosity. Gardens are forever changing and evolving. They have a life of their own.

My voyage in the world of opera has been like our garden, a path of discovery; finding new and exciting projects to dig and disappear into.

Discovering an opera based on the Brothers Grimm fairytale “The Juniper Tree” which has never previously been seen or heard live in the UK, I wanted to bring it to life. It reminded me of my childhood when my Austrian mother would perch on a stool telling me bed-time stories from German folklore. In an adaptation by Arthur Yorinks, author of over 35 children’s books, Philip Glass and Robert Moran have composed a vigorous and compelling piece of theatre, worthy of a place in the opera repertory.

“The Juniper Tree” tells of a wicked stepmother who murders her stepson, fearing that he reminds her husband of his late wife.  She then serves him up in a stew to his hungry, unsuspecting father. But the boy's sister buries her brother's bones under a juniper tree where their mother is buried, and the child's spirit returns as a singing bird who wreaks vengeance on the evil stepmother before being restored to life in the bosom of his family. All ends happily ever after.

Set and costume designer Laura Jane Stanfield

As with a lot of fairy-tales, there’s a moral for us all; if you do wrong then you will be punished, do good and you will be rewarded. Well, isn’t that what parents are supposed to teach us?

I was intrigued to discover that no-one else in the UK has performed this fantastical gem. Without hesitation I quickly gathered together a top creative team who will do the opera the justice it truly deserves.

Since it’s premiere in the US thirty-two years ago (also the year it was composed), at the American Repertory Theater in Massachusetts, surprisingly “The Juniper Tree” hasn’t been given a chance around the globe. Our attempts at trying to fathom out why, have left us blank. The music is first class, the story is magical and it has great vocal writing for the singers. I hope you will agree these are the prime ingredients for a good opera?

With Philip Glass, who has just turned 80 years old, and still going strong, his music is more prominent than ever before. He has collaborated with Doris Lessing, Martin Scorsese, Ravi Shankar, David Bowie, Paul Simon and in the case of “The Juniper Tree”, composer Robert Moran.

The Helen Astrid Singing Academy, is thrilled to be introducing “The Juniper Tree” opera to UK audiences at the end of March. We were blown away by 100s of singers who applied from all over the world. Thanks to Audition Oracle, we were lucky to select a superb cast lead by the outstanding Mariya Krywaniuk as the evil step-mother and James Corrigan as her suffering husband. Rebecca Moon sings the wife.

Also singing is ten-year old Lia Tynan, who's already made her Royal Opera House debut and Angus Whitworth, head chorister at the Chapel Royal. Children from schools in the borough will take part alongside a community chorus.  The director is Donna Stirrup (English National Opera/Glyndebourne Festival Opera) and Andrew Langley who conducts a Royal College of Music ensemble.  Set and Costume Design is by Laura Jane Stanfield.

The project combines a cultural experience for everyone, a developmental and educational voyage for children, a socially inclusive participatory event for the community at large building long lasting support and promoting emotional and social well-being. It’s also an important and perfect chance for us to promote and enhance the understanding of American music in the UK.

So, why I have to produce this magical opera centered around a tree aren’t just because of our fruit-bearing peach tree or the scary bed-time stories. It’s about transformation; turning potential into reality.

Incidentally, The Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, which we frequented often, are producing their own brand of gin made from juniper berries: Kew Organic Gin. A luxury that awaits me in the not too distant future!

“The Juniper Tree” will be performed on 30th & 31st March 2017 at 7.30pm at The Hammond Theatre, Hanworth Road, Hampton, TW12 3HD. Tickets available here!

BBC R4 6.00pm News will broadcast an excerpt during rehearsals.

References:

·    “Are Grimm Fairy tales too dark”, Stephen Evans, BBC.