“The Moderate Soprano” – a play by David Hare

The Moderate Soprano – a play by David Hare

Hampstead Theatre until November 28^th 2015

The Moderate Soprano is the latest masterpiece from multi award winning writer David Hare, whose works include Plenty and The Vertical Hour. The story is about John Christie and his labour of love: the building of Glyndebourne in 1934, the opera house located on the Sussex Downs. But it goes much deeper for Christie, superb performance by Roger Allam, is driven by his love for his wife, Audrey the eponymous soprano and his love for Wagner, both of which ultimately mould his passion for the sublime. In order to fulfil his dream, Christie engages the services of three Germans, exiled from Nazi Germany.

There’s a beautiful scene later on in the play when the German manger, Rudi, asks Audrey whether she feels trapped by his (Christie’s) dream, to which Audrey replies, “No, but I am defined by it”. And that is essentially the heart of the play. Power and control are tempered by moderation and co-operation and in the end John Christie triumphs and imposes his will on the audience of his opera house. And his opera house it is. This is not the place where you casually arrive after “shuffling stationary” at the office. Christie meant Glyndebourne to be the result of a journey undertaken by a true lover of the arts. A journey they embark on to fulfil a real thirst.

There is no sufficient copy to praise Hare’s script. There is comedy with Christie mocking Mozart and ultimately having to give in to the German trio with their request to open with The Marriage of Figaro. There is historical context and irony with the German creative team being so influential during that time just before World War II. Most of all there is a passion manifested by Roger Allam’s portrayal of Christie that leaves us all deeply moved.