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Berwick Festival Opera: John Tomlinson with Counterpoise: The Art of Love and Kokoschka’s Doll

@ The Maltings, Berwick

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A fascinating evening of two halves, focussing on the tempestuous affair between artist Oskar Kokoschka and composer Alma Mahler, starring operatic legend Sir John Tomlinson.

In the first half, mezzo-soprano Rozanna Madylus adopts the role of Alma in The Art of Love: Alma Mahler’s Life and Music (text by Barry Millington), a sequence of music by Alma and Gustav Mahler, Zemlinsky, Webern and Wagner (arranged by David Matthews).

In the second half Sir John and Counterpoise perform Kokoschka’s Doll, created especially for them by local composer John Casken, which tells the dramatic tale of the curious relationship between Oskar Kokoschka and his muse.

“Counterpoise’s ceaselessly versatile and intriguing combination of piano, violin, trumpet and clarinet/saxophone” – Independent

“engaging and thought-provoking” – Opera

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