The Handmaid's Tale

by Poul Ruders

FANS of author Margaret Atwood will be familiar with her novel The Handmaid's Tale and the disturbing events surrounding the storyline.

Now the futuristic plot, so heavy with sexual deceit and intrigue, forms the basis of a new opera by Poul Ruders.

The handmaid is a woman torn from her home in the year 2195 and forced to work for the family of a high-ranking official whose wife cannot bear children.

The handmaid is expected to perform this function.

She has no rights, no freedom and even her own name has been taken away.

Ruders, and his librettist Paul Bentley, have sunk their teeth into this Orwellian concept and come up with a highly-charged opera, as powerful in its content as in its musical excitement.

This double CD contains the world premiere recording and it's a must for lovers of contemporary opera.

It hardly needs emphasizing that this will not suit those who are locked into more conventional composers of classical music.

For a start the running time is 143 minutes, and also there is little likelihood of traditionalists walking away humming catchy melodies.

But for those prepared to open their ears and their prejudices and read the helpful booklet accompanying the discs, there is ample reward.

The Royal Danish Orchestra, conducted by Michael Schonwandt, and the Opera Chorus perform masterfully and there is tremendous energy and strength in the presentation.

Soloists include Marianne Rorholm, Hanne Fischer and Poul Elming and the haunting quality of their voices is captivating throughout this tragic tale.

The recording was made over four days at the Royal Danish Theatre and offers, without doubt, an experience to savour.

Dacap: 8.224165-66